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Barker C, Alshaikh H, Elston D. Dermatology practice updates in mycobacterial disease. Int J Dermatol 2024; 63:714-725. [PMID: 38095207 DOI: 10.1111/ijd.16969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Atypical mycobacterial infections are commonly acquired through exposure to water, and tuberculosis remains highly endemic in many parts of the world. In this era of global connection, travel, and immigration, it is more important than ever to maintain a high index of suspicion for infection from cutaneous tuberculosis and atypical mycobacteria. Epidemics related to surgical procedures have been related to inadequate sterilization, as almost 50% of public water supplies harbor mycobacteria. Improved diagnostic techniques for these microbes, including Auramine-Rhodamine staining and rapid detection of mycobacteria and drug susceptibilities through PCR and MALDI-TOF, have improved detection and treatment outcomes. Given an increasing number of patients on immunosuppressive therapies, clinicians must remain vigilant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Barker
- Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Hesham Alshaikh
- Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
- Department Mohs Micrographic and Dermatologic Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dirk Elston
- Department of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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2
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Gong W, Liu Y, Xue Y, Zhuang L. Two issues should be noted when designing a clinical trial to evaluate BCG effects on COVID-19. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1207212. [PMID: 37287961 PMCID: PMC10242049 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1207212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Wenping Gong
- Beijing Key Laboratory of New Techniques of Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Treatment, Senior Department of Tuberculosis, The 8th Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yinping Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of New Techniques of Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Treatment, Senior Department of Tuberculosis, The 8th Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Xue
- Beijing Key Laboratory of New Techniques of Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Treatment, Senior Department of Tuberculosis, The 8th Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhuang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of New Techniques of Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Treatment, Senior Department of Tuberculosis, The 8th Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, Hebei, China
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Aaby P, Netea MG, Benn CS. Beneficial non-specific effects of live vaccines against COVID-19 and other unrelated infections. THE LANCET. INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 23:e34-e42. [PMID: 36037824 PMCID: PMC9417283 DOI: 10.1016/s1473-3099(22)00498-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Live attenuated vaccines could have beneficial, non-specific effects of protecting against vaccine-unrelated infections, such as BCG protecting against respiratory infection. During the COVID-19 pandemic, testing of these effects against COVID-19 was of interest to the pandemic control programme. Non-specific effects occur due to the broad effects of specific live attenuated vaccines on the host immune system, relying on heterologous lymphocyte responses and induction of trained immunity. Knowledge of non-specific effects has been developed in randomised controlled trials and observational studies with children, but examining of whether the same principles apply to adults and older adults was of interest to researchers during the pandemic. In this Personal View, we aim to define a framework for the analysis of non-specific effects of live attenuated vaccines against vaccine-unrelated infections with pandemic potential using several important concepts. First, study endpoints should prioritise severity of infection and overall patient health rather than incidence of infection only (eg, although several trials found no protection of the BCG vaccine against COVID-19 infection, it is associated with lower overall mortality than placebo). Second, revaccination of an individual with the same live attenuated vaccine could be the most effective strategy against vaccine-unrelated infections. Third, coadministration of several live attenuated vaccines might enhance beneficial non-specific effects. Fourth, the sequence of vaccine administration matters; the live attenuated vaccine should be the last vaccine administered before exposure to the pandemic infection and non-live vaccines should not be administered afterwards. Fifth, live attenuated vaccines could modify the immune response to specific COVID-19 vaccines. Finally, non-specific effects of live attenuated vaccines should always be analysed with subgroup analysis by sex of individuals receiving the vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Aaby
- Bandim Health Project, Bissau, Guinea-Bissau, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Odense Patient data Explorative Network, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Department of Immunology and Metabolism, Life and Medical Science Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Christine S Benn
- Odense Patient data Explorative Network, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Danish Institute of Advanced Science, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
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4
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da Costa CG, Jalalizadeh M, Yadollahvandmiandoab R, Buosi K, Reis LO. Effect of BCG on Respiratory Complications Caused by COVID-19: A Scoping Review. Int J Gen Med 2022; 15:8727-8741. [PMID: 36601650 PMCID: PMC9807169 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s393861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been shown to have protective effects against respiratory viruses. We conducted a scoping review of the literature to clarify the available evidence regarding the effect of BCG therapy in preventing respiratory complications of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Scopus, and Web of Science for related studies up to October 2022. Results In total, 35 publications and trials were included. One animal study, two observational studies, and six finalized trials measured the effect of BCG administration on respiratory complications of COVID-19. The remaining publications included eight unfinished trials, 12 ecological studies, and six observational studies that did not directly measure respiratory complications but assessed overall mortality of the disease and were included as an adjunct to our study. All trials involved vaccinating adults to protect them against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and measured respiratory symptoms or the need for intensive respiratory support as the primary or secondary aim of the study. One trial that exclusively included at-risk adults between 18 and 60 years old showed a decreased chance of respiratory complications as the secondary outcome of the study. Another trial that exclusively evaluated this effect on the elderly (60 years and older) as the primary aim of the study reported no protective effect against respiratory complications. The remaining literature provided mostly inconclusive evidence. Conclusion The majority of the literature on the protective effect of BCG against respiratory complications of COVID-19 is inconclusive.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mehrsa Jalalizadeh
- Department of UroScience, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas – UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Reza Yadollahvandmiandoab
- Department of UroScience, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas – UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Keini Buosi
- Department of UroScience, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas – UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leonardo O Reis
- Department of UroScience, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas – UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil,Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas, PUC, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil,Correspondence: Leonardo O Reis, Department of UroScience, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, UNICAMP, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil, Tel +55 19 35217481, Email
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Tsilika M, Taks E, Dolianitis K, Kotsaki A, Leventogiannis K, Damoulari C, Kostoula M, Paneta M, Adamis G, Papanikolaou I, Stamatelopoulos K, Bolanou A, Katsaros K, Delavinia C, Perdios I, Pandi A, Tsiakos K, Proios N, Kalogianni E, Delis I, Skliros E, Akinosoglou K, Perdikouli A, Poulakou G, Milionis H, Athanassopoulou E, Kalpaki E, Efstratiou L, Perraki V, Papadopoulos A, Netea MG, Giamarellos-Bourboulis EJ. ACTIVATE-2: A Double-Blind Randomized Trial of BCG Vaccination Against COVID-19 in Individuals at Risk. Front Immunol 2022; 13:873067. [PMID: 35865520 PMCID: PMC9294453 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.873067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
In a recent study of our group with the acronym ACTIVATE, Bacillus Calmete-Guérin (BCG) vaccination reduced the occurrence of new infections compared to placebo vaccination in the elderly. Most benefit was found for respiratory infections. The ACTIVATE-2 study was launched to assess the efficacy of BCG vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this multicenter, double-blind trial, 301 volunteers aged 50 years or older were randomized (1:1) to be vaccinated with BCG or placebo. The trial end points were the incidence of COVID-19 and the presence of anti–severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (anti–SARS-CoV-2) antibodies, which were both evaluated through 6 months after study intervention. Results revealed 68% relative reduction of the risk to develop COVID-19, using clinical criteria or/and laboratory diagnosis, in the group of BCG vaccine recipients compared with placebo-vaccinated controls, during a 6-month follow-up (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.13-0.79). In total, eight patients were in need of hospitalization for COVID-19: six in the placebo group and two in the BCG group. Three months after study intervention, positive anti–SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were noted in 1.3% of volunteers in the placebo group and in 4.7% of participants in BCG-vaccinated group. The ACTIVATE II trial did not meet the primary endpoint of the reduction of the risk for COVID-19 3 months after BCG vaccination; however, the secondary endpoint of the reduction of the risk for COVID-19 6 months after BCG vaccination was met. BCG vaccination may be a promising approach against the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Tsilika
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Esther Taks
- Department of Internal Medicine and Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Konstantinos Dolianitis
- Department of Internal Medicine, “Bodosakeio” General Hospital of Ptolemaida, Ptolemaida, Greece
| | - Antigone Kotsaki
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Leventogiannis
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Christina Damoulari
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Kostoula
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Maria Paneta
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios Adamis
- 1Department of Internal Medicine, “G.Gennimatas” Athens General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Ilias Papanikolaou
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Aghia Eirini General Hospital of Kerkyra, Kontokali, Greece
| | - Kimon Stamatelopoulos
- Department of Therapeutics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Amalia Bolanou
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Christina Delavinia
- Department of Therapeutics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Perdios
- 1Department of Internal Medicine, “G.Gennimatas” Athens General Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Aggeliki Pandi
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Aghia Eirini General Hospital of Kerkyra, Kontokali, Greece
| | - Konstantinos Tsiakos
- 3Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Nektarios Proios
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Emmanouela Kalogianni
- Department of Therapeutics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Delis
- Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital of Karditsa, Karditsa, Greece
| | | | | | - Aggeliki Perdikouli
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Garyfallia Poulakou
- 3Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Haralampos Milionis
- 1Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Eva Athanassopoulou
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleftheria Kalpaki
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | | | | | - Antonios Papadopoulos
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
| | - Mihai G. Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Department of Immunology and Metabolism, Life and Medical Sciences Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis
- 4Department of Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Athens, Greece
- Hellenic Institute for the Study of Sepsis, Athens, Greece
- *Correspondence: Evangelos J. Giamarellos-Bourboulis,
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