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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Protective Efficacy and Pulmonary Immune Response Following Subcutaneous and Intranasal BCG Administration in Mice
Published on: September 19, 2016
Protective effect of the combination BCG vaccination and rifampicin prophylaxis in leprosy prevention
Ron P Schuring1, Jan Hendrik Richardus, David Pahan
1KIT (Royal Tropical Institute) Biomedical Research, Meibergdreef 39, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
BCG vaccination and rifampicin chemoprophylaxis are both strategies for leprosy prevention. While the combined effect is unknown, the combination may give the desired push to halt leprosy transmission. Secondary analysis was done on results from a single centre, double blind, cluster randomized, and placebo-controlled trial. Individually, BCG (given at infancy) and rifampicin showed to protect against leprosy (57% [95% CI: 24-75%] and 58% [95% CI: 30-74%], respectively). The combined strategies showed a protective effect of 80% (95% CI: 50-92%). This is the first time that the additive effect of BCG and rifampicin are shown; the combined strategies can possibly lower leprosy incidence.
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