Maternal Priming: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) Vaccine Scarring in Mothers Enhances the Survival of Their Child With a BCG Vaccine Scar

Mike Berendsen, Christian Øland, Pauli Bles, Aksel Karl Georg Jensen, Poul-Erik Kofoed, Hilton Whittle, Charlotte De Bree, Mihai Netea, Cesario Martins, Christine Stabell Benn, Peter Aaby*

*Kontaktforfatter

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

Abstract

Background and Hypothesis
Maternal priming might enhance the beneficial nonspecific effects (NSEs) of live measles vaccination (MV). Children with a bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine scar have a lower mortality rate than those without a scar that is not explained by protection against tuberculosis. We examined the hypothesis that BCG scarring would have a stronger effect on a child if the mother also had a BCG scar.

Methods
In a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of early MV in children aged 4.5 months, the BCG-scar status of the children and their mother were registered at enrollment at 4.5 months of age. The children were followed up until they were 36 months of age. Using a Cox proportional hazards model, we compared mortality rate ratios according to maternal and child BCG-scar status after adjusting for where the BCG vaccine was given (the national hospital or elsewhere). We censored for other interventions that have immunomodulating effects on child survival, including neonatal vitamin A supplementation and early MV.

Results
A total of 2213 children had not received neonatal vitamin A supplementation and early MV; 83% of these children and 44% of the mothers had a BCG scar. Children whose mother had a BCG scar were not more likely to have a BCG scar than those whose mother did not have a BCG scar (risk ratio, 1.01 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.98–1.05]). Among the children, having a BCG scar was associated with a 41% (95% CI, 5%–64%) lower mortality between the ages of 4.5 and 36 months. The reduction in mortality was 66% (95% CI, 33%–83%) if the mother also had a BCG scar but only 8% (95% CI, −83% to 53%) if the mother had no BCG scar (test of interaction, P = .04).

Conclusions
Maternal BCG priming might be important for the effect of BCG vaccination on child survival. Ensuring better BCG vaccine scarring among mothers and children could have a considerable effect on child mortality levels.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
Vol/bind9
Udgave nummer2
Sider (fra-til)166-172
ISSN2048-7207
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 30. apr. 2020

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