BCG vaccination at birth and early childhood hospitalisation: a randomised clinical multicentre trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The BCG vaccine is administered to protect against tuberculosis, but studies suggest there may also be non-specific beneficial effects upon the infant immune system, reducing early non-targeted infections and atopic diseases. The present randomised trial tested the hypothesis that BCG vaccination at birth would reduce early childhood hospitalisation in Denmark, a high-income setting.

Methods

Pregnant women planning to give birth at three Danish hospitals were invited to participate. After parental consent, newborn children were allocated to BCG or no intervention within 7 days of age. Randomisation was stratified by prematurity. The primary study outcome was number of all-cause hospitalisations analysed as repeated events. Hospitalisations were identified using Th

SUBMITTER: Stensballe LG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5339556 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature