Vaccines for Tuberculosis: The Glass Remains Half Empty
Authors: Jeffrey Glassroth
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1997)

Editorials1 September 1997Vaccines for Tuberculosis: The Glass Remains Half EmptyJeffrey Glassroth, MDJeffrey Glassroth, MDMCP-Hahnemann School of Medicine; Allegheny University of the Health Sciences; Philadelphia, PA 19129Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-127-5-199709010-00012 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Despite the use of combinations of drugs that permit a substantial shortening of treatment and prophylaxis, as well as intermittent directly observed therapy, current regimens for treating patients with tuberculosis still require many months to be effective, and sustaining adherence remains a challenge. Indeed, the worldwide prevalence of tuberculosis is steady and each year millions of persons throughout the world die of the disease. The World Health Organization projects that the combination of HIV and tuberculosis is likely to result in a substantial increase in deaths in the coming years. Moreover, outbreaks of drug-resistant (and often multidrug-resistant) tuberculosis [1] and ...References1. Frieden TR, Sterling T, Pablos-Mendez A, Kilburn JO, Cauthen GM, Dooley SW. The emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis in New York City N Engl J Med. 1993; 328:521-6. Google Scholar2. Small PM, Hopewell PC, Singh SP, Paz A, Parsonnet J, Ruston DC, et al. The epidemiology of tuberculosis in San Francisco. A population-based study using conventional and molecular methods. N Engl J Med. 1994; 330:1703-9 Google Scholar3. Comstock GW, Webster RG. Tuberculosis studies in Muscogee County. Georgia. VII. A twenty-year evaluation of BCG vaccination in a school population. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1969; 100:839-45. Google Scholar4. BCG and vole bacilus vaccines in the prevention of tuberculosis in adolescence and early adult life. Bull World Health Org. 1972; 42:371-85. Google Scholar5. Colditz GA, Brewer TF, Berkey CS, Wilson ME, Burdick E, Fineberg HV, et al. Efficacy of BCG vaccine in the prevention of tuberculosis. Meta-analysis of the published literature. JAMA. 1994; 271:698-702. Google Scholar6. Randomised controlled trail of single BCG, repeated BCG, or combined BCG and killed Mycobacterium leprae vaccine for prevention of leprosy and tuberculosis in Malawi Karonga Prevention Trial Group. Lancet. 1996; 348:17-24. Google Scholar7. Stanford JL, Bahr GM, Rook GA, Shaaban MA, Chugh TD, Gabriel M, et al. Immunotherapy with Mycobacterium vaccae as an adjunct to chemotherapy in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. Tubercle. 1990; 71:87-93. Google Scholar8. Bass JB Jr, Farer LS, Hopewell PC, O'Brien R, Jacobs RF, Ruben F, et al. Treatment of tuberculosis and tuberculosis infection in adults and children. American Thoracic Society and The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1994; 149:1359-74. Google Scholar9. Polesky A, Farber HW, Gottlieb DJ, Park H, Levinson S, O'Connell JJ, et al. Rifampin preventive therapy for tuberculosis in Boston's homeless. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1996; 154:1473-77. Google Scholar10. Pape JW, Jean SS, Ho JL, Hafner A, Johnson WD Jr. Effect of isoniazid prophylaxis on incidence of active tuberculosis and progression of HIV infection. Lancet. 1993; 342:268-72. Google Scholar11. The role of BCG vaccine in the prevention and control of tuberculosis in the United States. A joint statement by the Advisory Council for the Elimination of Tuberculosis and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1996; 45:1-18. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: MCP-Hahnemann School of Medicine; Allegheny University of the Health Sciences; Philadelphia, PA 19129Corresponding Author: Jeffrey Glassroth, MD, MCP-Hahnemann School of Medicine, Allegheny University of the Health Sciences. 3300 Henry Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19129. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited ByClinical Considerations in Designing Trials of Vaccines for TuberculosisMycobacterium tuberculosis infection and disease are not associated with protection against subsequent disseminated M. avium complex disease 1 September 1997Volume 127, Issue 5Page: 403-404KeywordsBacille calmette guerinDrug therapyHIV infectionsInfectious diseasesLeprosyPulmonary diseasesSkin testsTuberculinTuberculosisVaccines Issue Published: 1 September 1997 CopyrightCopyright © 1997 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...