RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 BCG vaccination in childhood is not related to pulmonary immunity against M. tuberculosis in adults JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 4479 VO 44 IS Suppl 58 A1 Christian Herzman A1 Giovanni Sotgiu A1 Tom Schaberg A1 Martin Ernst A1 Steffen Stenger A1 Christoph Lange YR 2014 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/4479.abstract AB Background: Neonatal vaccination with Mycobacterium bovis Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) reduces the risk of infection with M. tuberculosis and the risk for severe forms of tuberculosis in children.Objectives: Evaluation of the effect of neonatal M. bovis BCG vaccination on sensitization with M. tuberculosis antigens in adults.Methods: Adult healthy M. tuberculosis exposed healthcare workers and household tuberculosis contacts and cured tuberculosis patients were recruited. Interferon-g release assays (IGRAs) were performed on blood and mononuclear cells from bronchoalveolar-lavage (BALMC). BALMC were co-cultured with M. tuberculosis in growth inhibition assays.Results: 512 individuals with known M. bovis BCG vaccination status were recruited. Of 505 HIV-uninfected, 322 (64%) were vaccinated, while 183 (36%) were not. In 170 of 483 contacts with known blood IGRA status, the IGRA result was positive. Of the 88 subjects from which a BALMC IGRA was performed, 26 had a positive result. M. tuberculosis-specific IGRA responses were not associated with M. bovis BCG vaccination status (ORs were 1.09, P= 0.66, and 0.81, P= 0.68, for blood and BAL respectively). The frequency of PPD responsive BAL mononuclear cells was higher in vaccinated versus non-vaccinated persons with a median (IQR) of 22 (6-101) versus 8 (1-44) spot forming cells per 200.000 BALMC, respectively (P=0.0468). In BALMC based growth inhibition assays, M. tuberculosis growth rates did not differ between M. bovis BCG-vaccinated and non-vaccinated subjects.Conclusions: Early childhood vaccination with M. bovis BCG does not protect from infection with M. tuberculosis in adulthood as defined by IGRA testing.