Prophylactic effect in mice of BCG vaccination against nontuberculous mycobacterial infections

The effect of prior vaccination of mice with Mycobacterium bovis BCG on the subsequent course of acute aerogenic infection with various environmental mycobacteria was tested. A protective effect was recorded against infection with M. avium, and M. kansasii; by contrast no effect was noted against M. simiae or M. intracellulare. The prophylactic effects of BCG were demonstrated regardless of whether vaccination was given by the intravenous or aerogenic routes. These findings support the hypothesis that BCG vaccination, if given prior to contact, can provide some degree of protection against certain non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections.