M. vaccae as a Treatment for Tuberculosis
Author Information
Author(s): Yang Xiao-Yan, Chen Qun-Fei, Li You-Ping, Wu Si-Miao
Primary Institution: Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine Center/The Chinese Cochrane Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
Hypothesis
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of heat-killed M.vaccae added to chemotherapy of never-treated tuberculosis (TB) patients.
Conclusion
Added to chemotherapy, M.vaccae is helpful in the treatment of never-treated TB patients in terms of improving both sputum conversion and X-ray appearances.
Supporting Evidence
- M.vaccae improved sputum smear conversion rates in TB patients without complications.
- In elderly TB patients, M.vaccae showed significant improvement in sputum conversion rates.
- No systemic adverse events were reported in the studies.
Takeaway
M. vaccae is a special treatment that helps people with tuberculosis get better faster when used with regular medicine.
Methodology
The study included randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials comparing M.vaccae with or without a placebo-control injection as adjuvant therapy in the chemotherapy of never-treated TB patients.
Potential Biases
The quality of trials conducted in China was generally lower than those conducted abroad.
Limitations
The follow-up period was not long enough to obtain long-term results, and the multi-dose use of M.vaccae was not standardized.
Participant Demographics
The ages of the TB patients ranged from 18 to 65, with some studies specifically targeting elderly patients above 65.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Confidence Interval
(1.04, 1.10)
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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