American Journal of Pediatrics

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Newborn BCG Vaccinations: Scar Formation and Tuberculin Conversion Rates: A Retrospective Study

Received: Dec. 20, 2018    Accepted: Jan. 14, 2019    Published: Jan. 31, 2019
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Abstract

Through this study, we aimed to determine the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination uptake by scar formation rate following newborn BCG vaccinations and tuberculin conversion in a tertiary hospital setting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 945 babies vaccinated with BCG during 1 January and 31 December 2017. All babies were administered with intradermal 0.05 ml of BCG in the left deltoid. The descriptive variables include vaccination coverage. The outcome data includes follow up at 2, 4, and 6 months for scar formation, Mantoux test results, and revaccination data. Out of 945 babies, 911 (96.4%) were vaccinated by trained nurses with BCG after birth and before being discharged. This was following written consent from parents who were well informed by the details of the vaccinations. The non-vaccinated babies 34 (3.6%) were from different resident nationalities and the parents declined the BCG vaccine. Reason for such decline is not documented but it is likely because in their home country such vaccines are not routinely given. The number of babies who did not return for follow up was 483 (53%). These babies were followed by other centers or outside the country hence were not included in the study. The number of babies followed up with no record on BCG scar was 334 out of the total number of 482 (78%). BCG scar formation was recorded in 84 babies (19.6%) followed up. Scar formation failure was recorded in 10 (2.3%). Six babies (60%) of those who had no scar had Mantoux test performed. The association between absence of scar and negative Mantoux results were highly significant (P< 0.05) with 100% of babies having negative Mantoux results, therefore, no immunity. It is concluded that BCG scar is poorly recorded similarly to other high-income countries. There is a good correlation between lack of BCG scar and no immunity to Tuberculosis. Improvement of newborn BCG uptake is importantly needed. It is recommended to introduce mandatory recording of the outcome of BCG scar formation and resultant outcomes in the vaccinations books. Training of personnel administering the BCG vaccination is an important element for successful vaccination in this vulnerable age group.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajp.20190501.11
Published in American Journal of Pediatrics ( Volume 5, Issue 1, March 2019 )
Page(s) 1-6
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

BCG, Newborn, Vaccine, Tuberculosis, Mantoux Test, Scar

References
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[18] Hassan S, Hassan Abro A. Renal Tuberculosis in a 14-Years-Old Boy Presented as Pyrexia of an Unknown Origin (PUO): A First Case Report. American Journal of Pedriatics. 2018;4(2): 21-24.
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[23] Frankel H, Byberg S, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Martins C, Aaby P, Benn C, et al. Different effects of BCG strains – A natural experiment evaluating the impact of the Danish and the Russian BCG strains on morbidity and scar formation in Guinea-Bissau. Vaccine. 2016; 34(38): 4586–93.
[24] Shen CM, Soong WJ, Jeng MJ, Hwang B. Tuberculin response in infants six months after an intradermal Bacille Calmette-Guerin Vaccination. Fu-Jen Journal of Medicine. 2007;5:115–21.
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  • APA Style

    Hanieh Tabatabaei, Sam Hassan. (2019). Newborn BCG Vaccinations: Scar Formation and Tuberculin Conversion Rates: A Retrospective Study. American Journal of Pediatrics, 5(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20190501.11

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    ACS Style

    Hanieh Tabatabaei; Sam Hassan. Newborn BCG Vaccinations: Scar Formation and Tuberculin Conversion Rates: A Retrospective Study. Am. J. Pediatr. 2019, 5(1), 1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20190501.11

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    AMA Style

    Hanieh Tabatabaei, Sam Hassan. Newborn BCG Vaccinations: Scar Formation and Tuberculin Conversion Rates: A Retrospective Study. Am J Pediatr. 2019;5(1):1-6. doi: 10.11648/j.ajp.20190501.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajp.20190501.11,
      author = {Hanieh Tabatabaei and Sam Hassan},
      title = {Newborn BCG Vaccinations: Scar Formation and Tuberculin Conversion Rates: A Retrospective Study},
      journal = {American Journal of Pediatrics},
      volume = {5},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-6},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajp.20190501.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajp.20190501.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajp.20190501.11},
      abstract = {Through this study, we aimed to determine the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination uptake by scar formation rate following newborn BCG vaccinations and tuberculin conversion in a tertiary hospital setting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 945 babies vaccinated with BCG during 1 January and 31 December 2017. All babies were administered with intradermal 0.05 ml of BCG in the left deltoid. The descriptive variables include vaccination coverage. The outcome data includes follow up at 2, 4, and 6 months for scar formation, Mantoux test results, and revaccination data. Out of 945 babies, 911 (96.4%) were vaccinated by trained nurses with BCG after birth and before being discharged. This was following written consent from parents who were well informed by the details of the vaccinations. The non-vaccinated babies 34 (3.6%) were from different resident nationalities and the parents declined the BCG vaccine.  Reason for such decline is not documented but it is likely because in their home country such vaccines are not routinely given. The number of babies who did not return for follow up was 483 (53%). These babies were followed by other centers or outside the country hence were not included in the study. The number of babies followed up with no record on BCG scar was 334 out of the total number of 482 (78%). BCG scar formation was recorded in 84 babies (19.6%) followed up. Scar formation failure was recorded in 10 (2.3%). Six babies (60%) of those who had no scar had Mantoux test performed. The association between absence of scar and negative Mantoux results were highly significant (P< 0.05) with 100% of babies having negative Mantoux results, therefore, no immunity. It is concluded that BCG scar is poorly recorded similarly to other high-income countries. There is a good correlation between lack of BCG scar and no immunity to Tuberculosis. Improvement of newborn BCG uptake is importantly needed. It is recommended to introduce mandatory recording of the outcome of BCG scar formation and resultant outcomes in the vaccinations books. Training of personnel administering the BCG vaccination is an important element for successful vaccination in this vulnerable age group.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Newborn BCG Vaccinations: Scar Formation and Tuberculin Conversion Rates: A Retrospective Study
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    AU  - Sam Hassan
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    JF  - American Journal of Pediatrics
    JO  - American Journal of Pediatrics
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    AB  - Through this study, we aimed to determine the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination uptake by scar formation rate following newborn BCG vaccinations and tuberculin conversion in a tertiary hospital setting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted on 945 babies vaccinated with BCG during 1 January and 31 December 2017. All babies were administered with intradermal 0.05 ml of BCG in the left deltoid. The descriptive variables include vaccination coverage. The outcome data includes follow up at 2, 4, and 6 months for scar formation, Mantoux test results, and revaccination data. Out of 945 babies, 911 (96.4%) were vaccinated by trained nurses with BCG after birth and before being discharged. This was following written consent from parents who were well informed by the details of the vaccinations. The non-vaccinated babies 34 (3.6%) were from different resident nationalities and the parents declined the BCG vaccine.  Reason for such decline is not documented but it is likely because in their home country such vaccines are not routinely given. The number of babies who did not return for follow up was 483 (53%). These babies were followed by other centers or outside the country hence were not included in the study. The number of babies followed up with no record on BCG scar was 334 out of the total number of 482 (78%). BCG scar formation was recorded in 84 babies (19.6%) followed up. Scar formation failure was recorded in 10 (2.3%). Six babies (60%) of those who had no scar had Mantoux test performed. The association between absence of scar and negative Mantoux results were highly significant (P< 0.05) with 100% of babies having negative Mantoux results, therefore, no immunity. It is concluded that BCG scar is poorly recorded similarly to other high-income countries. There is a good correlation between lack of BCG scar and no immunity to Tuberculosis. Improvement of newborn BCG uptake is importantly needed. It is recommended to introduce mandatory recording of the outcome of BCG scar formation and resultant outcomes in the vaccinations books. Training of personnel administering the BCG vaccination is an important element for successful vaccination in this vulnerable age group.
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Author Information
  • College of Medicine, Mohammad Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  • Department of Pediatrics, Mediclinic City Hospital, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  • Section