| United States are using Mantoux as a diagnosing | | | | workers and subsequent infection is likely. The third |
| method for tuberculosis. Other countries prefer BCG, | | | | and last condition is that no other tuberculosis |
| or bacilli Calmette Guerin. This vaccine is used | | | | infection control precautions have been successful. It |
| especially in countries where tuberculosis is an often | | | | is also good to know for the health care workers |
| seen disease and for preventing childhood | | | | that BCG vaccination involves risks too especially |
| tuberculosis, meningitis or miliary disease. BCG is not | | | | when this vaccine is associated with treatment of |
| oftenly used in the United States because of the low | | | | latent tuberculosis infection. |
| risk of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis or | | | | Even if its effects are generally positive this BCG |
| because the vaccine's possible interference with | | | | vaccine is not recommended at all for some |
| tuberculin skin tests. This type of vaccine is | | | | categories of persons. For example we might |
| recommended to be given only to persons who | | | | remember the persons who are immunosuppressed |
| meet specific criteria and consult a tuberculosis | | | | such as persons with HIV. The risk is to become |
| expert. | | | | immunocompromised. |
| For each category of persons the indications and | | | | Another category of persons who are not allowed to |
| recommendations are different. For example this | | | | take this vaccine is the pregnant women. It is |
| type vaccine should only be prescribed for children | | | | recommended for them to avoid taking this vaccine |
| who have negative tuberculin skin test and who are | | | | during pregnancy. No complications have been |
| exposed to other persons with tuberculosis. | | | | observed during pregnancy but further studies want |
| Health care workers are also a possible affected | | | | to prove this treatment's safety before allowing this |
| category of people. For them the BCG vaccine should | | | | it to be prescribed for this category of persons. |
| be considered in the following conditions: first of the | | | | A problem was also noticed for people that have |
| conditions is that a high percentage of tuberculin | | | | been vaccinated with BCG. This problem consists of |
| patients to be infected with M. tuberculosis strains | | | | the positive reaction to the tuberculin skin tests. This |
| resistant to both isoniazid and rifampin. The second | | | | might complicate the later decisions about prescribing |
| condition for giving this vaccine to health care | | | | treatment. Despite this potential problem that may |
| workers is to be an ongoing transmission of such | | | | occur these tests are not contraindicated for persons |
| drug resistant M. tuberculosis strains to health care | | | | who have been vaccinated with BCG. |