Biomaterial Database

BCG vaccination and the PPD test: what the clinician needs to know. 1995

S D Ciesielski

Family Practice Residency Program, Natividad Medical Center, Salinas, California 93906.

The resurgence in tuberculosis necessitates careful surveillance and sensitive detection of cases. The purified protein derivative (PPD) test is the foundation of tuberculosis control. Primary care clinicans are encountering increasing numbers of persons immigrating from countries in which BCG (bacille Calmette-Guérin) vaccination is common. Many health care providers believe that previous BCG vaccination usually results in a positive PPD test, and therefore consider BCG vaccination status when interpreting a positive result on the PPD test. All articles listed in MEDLINE that included BCG and PPD as key words, a total of 62, were reviewed. Articles published before computerization of the medical literature, a total of 35, were reviewed in Index Medicus. This literature review indicates that there is little relationship between BCG vaccination and PPD positivity, and that BCG vaccination status should not be considered in the interpretation of a positive PPD test.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001500	BCG Vaccine	An active immunizing agent and a viable avirulent attenuated strain of MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS, which confers immunity to mycobacterial infections. It is used also in immunotherapy of neoplasms due to its stimulation of antibodies and non-specific immunity.	Bacillus Calmette Guerin Vaccine,Calmette Guerin Bacillus Vaccine,Calmette's Vaccine,Calmette Vaccine,Calmettes Vaccine,Vaccine, BCG,Vaccine, Calmette's
D014373	Tuberculin	A protein extracted from boiled culture of tubercle bacilli (MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS). It is used in the tuberculin skin test (TUBERCULIN TEST) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection in asymptomatic persons.	PPD,PPD-B,PPD-CG,PPD-F,PPD-L,PPD-S,Purified Protein Derivative of Tuberculin,PPD B,PPD CG,PPD F,PPD L
D014374	Tuberculin Test	One of several skin tests to determine past or present tuberculosis infection. A purified protein derivative of the tubercle bacilli, called tuberculin, is introduced into the skin by scratch, puncture, or interdermal injection.	Test, Tuberculin,Tests, Tuberculin,Tuberculin Tests
D014397	Tuberculosis, Pulmonary	MYCOBACTERIUM infections of the lung.	Pulmonary Consumption,Pulmonary Phthisis,Pulmonary Tuberculoses,Pulmonary Tuberculosis,Tuberculoses, Pulmonary,Consumption, Pulmonary,Consumptions, Pulmonary,Phthises, Pulmonary,Phthisis, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Consumptions,Pulmonary Phthises
D014611	Vaccination	Administration of vaccines to stimulate the host's immune response. This includes any preparation intended for active immunological prophylaxis.	Immunization, Active,Active Immunization,Active Immunizations,Immunizations, Active,Vaccinations