Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 26, 2026

Protective Efficacy and Pulmonary Immune Response Following Subcutaneous and Intranasal BCG Administration in Mice

Protective Efficacy and Pulmonary Immune Response Following Subcutaneous and Intranasal BCG Administration in Mice

Published on: September 19, 2016

BCG vaccination is associated with decreased severity of tuberculosis in Pakistan

Zahra Hasan¹, Muhammad Irfan¹, Javaid A Khan¹

¹The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.

International Journal of Mycobacteriology

|January 21, 2016

Insights

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination may protect against severe tuberculosis (TB) forms in Pakistan. Higher BCG vaccination rates were observed in tuberculous lymphadenitis cases, suggesting localized protection in this high-burden region.

Area of Science:

Immunology
Infectious Diseases
Public Health

Background:

Pakistan is a high-burden tuberculosis (TB) country, with BCG vaccination administered at birth.
TB incidence in Pakistan is 231/100,000 population.
Understanding BCG's effectiveness against different TB forms is crucial for public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the association between BCG vaccination status and the severity of tuberculosis in Pakistan.
To determine if BCG vaccination influences the type of TB infection (pulmonary vs. extrapulmonary) or specific forms like tuberculous lymphadenitis.

Main Methods:

A cross-sectional, multi-center, hospital-based study.
Recruited 218 TB patients (pulmonary and extrapulmonary).
Documented BCG vaccination scar presence and classified TB severity.

Main Results:

No significant difference in BCG vaccination status was found between pulmonary TB (PTB) and extrapulmonary TB (ETB) cases, or by age and gender.
A significantly greater number of tuberculous lymphadenitis (LNTB) cases had received BCG vaccinations compared to pleural TB and tuberculous meningitis.
More vaccinated patients had pulmonary TB than pleural TB.

Conclusions:

BCG vaccination may offer protection against more severe forms of TB, particularly localized tuberculous lymphadenitis.
Findings suggest BCG's protective role in specific TB manifestations within a high-burden setting.
Further research is warranted to elucidate BCG's mechanism of protection against diverse TB presentations.

Read full analysis

Abstract:

Vaccination with Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is given at birth to protect against tuberculosis (TB) in Pakistan. The country ranks 6th amongst high-burden countries worldwide and has an incidence of 231/100,000 pyopulation. This was a cross-sectional multi-center hospital-based study. TB patients (n=218) with pulmonary (PTB, n=120) or extrapulmonary (ETB, 98) were recruited, and the presence of a BCG vaccination scar was documented. Cases were further classified into minimal, moderate and advanced PTB or less severe (L-ETB) or severe disseminated (D-ETB) disease. The association of age, gender and severity of TB infections with BCG vaccination of the individual TB cases was investigated. No difference was found of the BCG vaccination status of PTB and ETB cases, or in relation to age or gender. Patients under 29years of age comprised the largest group. There were more females with ETB than PTB. The largest group within ETB comprised those with tuberculous lymphadenitis (LNTB, 39%). A significantly greater number of LNTB cases had received BCG vaccinations than had those with pleural (unilateral) TB (p=0.004), and tuberculous meningitis (p=0.027) groups. Also, there were more immunized patients with pulmonary as compared with pleural disease (p=0.001). LNTB represents localized granulomatous disease and the observation of higher vaccination rates in this group suggests that BCG has protected against more severe forms of TB in this high-burden region.

Keywords:

BCG Extrapulmonary TB Tuberculous lymphadenitis

More Related Videos

Enrichment of Native and Recombinant Extracellular Vesicles of Mycobacteria

Enrichment of Native and Recombinant Extracellular Vesicles of Mycobacteria

Published on: December 8, 2023

Author Spotlight: Optimizing CFU Determination for Efficient Assessment of TB Vaccine Efficacy and Antigen Presentation Analysis

Author Spotlight: Optimizing CFU Determination for Efficient Assessment of TB Vaccine Efficacy and Antigen Presentation Analysis

Published on: July 28, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Pulmonary Tuberculosis V

Pulmonary Tuberculosis V

Medical management of tuberculosis (TB) patients involves a comprehensive approach that includes diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. The specific strategies can vary depending on the type of tuberculosis (latent or active), the patient's overall health status, and other considerations.
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the...

Pulmonary Tuberculosis I

Pulmonary Tuberculosis I

Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...

Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV

Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV

Tuberculosis, more commonly referred to as TB, is an infectious disease stemming from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While it primarily impacts the lungs, TB can also affect other body areas. Given its severity and global impact, timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for controlling its spread and improving patient outcomes.
Several diagnostic approaches are used to detect TB. The conventional method is the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test. However, this method has...

Pulmonary Tuberculosis II

Pulmonary Tuberculosis II

Tuberculosis, or TB, is a bacterial infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While its primary impact is on the lungs, leading to pulmonary tuberculosis, it can also affect various other organs, a condition referred to as extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
Here is a detailed explanation of its pathophysiology:
Transmission: The process begins when a person inhales droplet nuclei containing M. tuberculosis. These are typically released into the air when an individual with pulmonary or...

Pulmonary Tuberculosis III

Pulmonary Tuberculosis III

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection primarily affecting the lung parenchyma but which can also affect other body parts. TB can be classified based on disease development, presentation, and the affected anatomical site.
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:

Vaccinations

Vaccinations

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Artificial Intelligence in Extended Reality and Digital Rehabilitation Technologies for Fall Prevention in Older Adults: A Rapid Review of the Evidence.

NeuroRehabilitation·2026

Predictors of seizures in patients with stroke in a tertiary care setup.

JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association·2026

Exploratory Evaluation of Susceptibility Patterns of Clinical Isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii Towards Polymyxins and Different Cationic Antimicrobials.

Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Correction: Memon et al. Incorporation of Wheat Straw Ash as Partial Sand Replacement for Production of Eco-Friendly Concrete. Materials 2021, 14, 2078.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Efficacy and safety of indobufen- versus aspirin-based dual antiplatelet therapy following percutaneous coronary intervention: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Annals of medicine and surgery (2012)·2026

Cervical Metastases Mimicking Ulnar Neuropathy in a 78-Year-Old Man With Advanced Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Cureus·2026

See all related articles