BACILLE GUERIN,CALMETTE VACCINATION IN PRETERM INFANTS

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) vaccine in pre-term infants. DESIGN: BCG vaccine was given to three gr oups of neonates: 1) 36 pre-terms born at different gestational ages ( GA) vaccinated at birth, 2) 16 pre-terms vaccinated at 40 weeks post c onceptional age, and 3) 20 full-terms vaccinated at birth. All of the infants were tested by purified protein derivative (PPD) 2-4 months po st vaccination. RESULT: The mean sizes of BCG scarring and PPD tubercu lin induration were largest in full-term and smallest in pre-term infa nts vaccinated at birth. The preterm infants of lower CA (27-33 weeks) had non-significantly smaller BCG scar and PPD induration than the pr e-terms of higher GA (34-36 weeks). The results of logistic regression analyses revealed that female infants were more likely to have a BCG scar, and both birth weight and female sex were significantly associat ed with a reactive PPD induration. CONCLUSION: This study indicates th at male pre-term infants of lower GA (<33 weeks) are less likely to de velop BCG scar and a reactive PPD tuberculin test after BCG vaccinatio n. These findings do not support routine BCG vaccination at birth of p re-term neonates of GA <33 weeks. Studies including larger groups of i nfants are needed to confirm these findings.