BCG vaccine has been used since 1921 for primary prevention of tuberculosis in man. The immunogenic efficacy of this vaccine has been reported between 2 to 83/. in various studies.

In order to assess the efficacy of neonatal BCG vaccination in 200 infants who had received BCG vecctne at birth, BCG vaccine scars were measured and PPD test (5 unit strength) was performed at 3 months of age. The survey was carried out from September 1993 to June 1994 in Shahid Akbarabad/ and Firoozgar University Hospitals.

Positive BCG scars (defined, when ~ 3 mm in greater diameter) was present in 68/. of infants.

PPD test results were negative « 5mm) in 321. , suspecious (5-9 mm) in 51/. and positive(~ 10mm) in 1T1. of cases.

Proportion of positive PPD tests was higher in male (pa direct correlation between diameter of BCG scars and intensity of reaction to PPD tests.

The most common complication of BCG vaccination was lymphadenitis which was detected in 2/. of infants.