BCG and new preventive tuberculosis vaccines: implications for healthcare workers

3 May 2016, adapted from SATVI news

In research led by Associate Professors Mark Hatherill and Tom Scriba, respectively Director and Deputy Director of SATVI, have co-authored a paper entitled: "BCG and New Preventive Tuberculosis Vaccines: Implications for Healthcare Workers". Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection and tuberculosis disease, but also play a crucial role in implementing healthcare. Pre-exposure tuberculosis vaccination, including revaccination with BCG, might benefit Mtb-uninfected HCWs, but most HCWs in tuberculosis-endemic countries are already sensitized to mycobacteria. A new postexposure tuberculosis vaccine offers greatest potential for protection, in the setting of repeated occupational Mtb exposure.

Full article:
'BCG and New Preventive Tuberculosis Vaccines: Implications for Healthcare Workers.' Hatherill M, Scriba TJ, Udwadia ZF, Mullerpattan JB, Hawkridge A, Mahomed H, Dye C. Clinical Infectious Diseases (2016), 62(3):S262-7. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciw025.