Assessing the effect of the BCG vaccine on preventing COVID-19 infection in healthcare workers exposed to coronavirus
Design
Phase III double blind Placebo-controlled adaptive multi-centre randomized controlled trial. Groups are determined by block randomization to receive a BCG vaccine or normal saline in a 1: 1 ratio.
Settings and conduct
The study will include five hundred healthcare workers in the COVID-19 hospitals in Shiraz, Iran. Participants will be follow-up for 12 months with regular mobile phone text messages to identify COVID-19 infection and related issues.Blood samples will be collected prior to randomization and at 12 months to determine exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria include HCW over 18 years of age, male or female,
hospital personnel who take care of patients with SARS CoV-2 infection with a signed and dated informed consent form.
Exclusion criteria include HCW with fever, skin infections at the site of vaccine injection, intercurrent respiratory infection, or those who take immunosuppresive medications, those with any serious underlying conditions such as malignancies, receiving any live vaccine, BCG vaccine injection over the past year, having a positive COVID-19 test result.
Intervention groups
Experimental: 0.10 mL intradermal injection of BCG Vaccine over the distal insertion of the deltoid muscle onto the humerus.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo
intradermal injection of 0.1ml of 0.9% NaCl solution
Main outcome variables
1- Confirmed COVID-19 infection
2- Hospitalization due to COVID-19
3- Death due to COVID-19.
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20200411047019N1
Registration date:2020-05-18, 1399/02/29
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2020-05-18, 1399/02/29
Update count:0
Registration date
2020-05-18, 1399/02/29
Registrant information
Name
Bahman Pourabbas
Name of organization / entity
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 71 3647 4304
Email address
pourabbasb@sums.ac.ir
Recruitment status
Recruitment complete
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2020-06-04, 1399/03/15
Expected recruitment end date
2021-06-05, 1400/03/15
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
Investigating the Effect of BCG Vaccine on Preventing COVID-19 Infection in Healthcare Staff Exposed to SARS-CoV-2
Public title
Effect of BCG Vaccine on Preventing COVID-19
Purpose
Prevention
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Healthcare workers potentially exposed to patient with COVID-19 infection in hospitals
Over 18 years of age
Complete the consent form with date and signature
Male and female
Exclusion criteria:
Allergy to the BCG vaccine or any BCG vaccine contraindication
Fever (>38 C) within the past 24 hours or generalised skin diseases such as infection, eczema, dermatitis or psoriasis at or near the site of vaccination.
Pregnancy
Cases with active or latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Known HIV infection
Individuals with any serious underlying illness (such as malignancy) except those with cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and/or chronic respiratory disease if they are not immunocompromised
Live vaccine administered for 4 weeks prior to randomization
Suspected to active viral or bacterial infections
Individuals with a SARS-CoV-2 positive test result
Severely immunocompromised subject or who has taken immunosuppressive therapy in the last years
Age
From 18 years old
Gender
Both
Phase
3
Groups that have been masked
Participant
Care provider
Investigator
Outcome assessor
Sample size
Target sample size:
500
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
In this study, block randomization will be used and the size of the blocks will be selected randomly (for example 8 or 6 participants in each block with an equal number of two groups). In this method, the blocks are determined based on the hospital health care workers information that is in the face of covid 19. In each block, half of the people are considered as intervention groups and the rest half as placebo. The main goal of this method is to balance the number of participants in each group.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Double blinded
Blinding description
Statistical data analyst will distribute the health care workers in randomized blocks using software in two groups including vaccine recipients and placebo. Identical vials without specifications (vials A and B) will be given to nurses for injection.
-Participants won't be aware of the injection material.
Individuals who won't be aware of the grouping are as follow:
-Individuals who receive feedback from participants about influenza-like
illness or severe respiratory illness.
-People who perform PCR tests to diagnose the coronavirus.
-Personnel and researchers who complete information based on
questionnaires and register in SPSS software.
The final analysis will be performed by the statistical analyst who is informed of the grouping.
Placebo
Used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics committee of Shiraz university of medical sciences
Street address
Clinical Microbiology Research center, Nemazi Hospital, Zand St,Zand St.
City
Shiraz
Province
Fars
Postal code
7188858184
Approval date
2020-05-20, 1399/02/31
Ethics committee reference number
IR.SUMS.REC.1399.181
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
ICD-10 code
U07.1 COVI
ICD-10 code description
U07.1 COVID-19, virus identified
Primary outcomes
1
Description
COVID-19 infection
Timepoint
Time Frame: At the beginning and weekly for up to 12 months
Method of measurement
A questionare for assessment of fever (>38), cough, shortness of breath, respiratory failure, runny / blocked nose and PCR or serology for detection of SARS-Cov-2
2
Description
Severe COVID-19 disease
Timepoint
Time Frame: At the beginning and weekly for up to 12 months
Method of measurement
A questionare to assess hospitalization or death due to covid-19 infection.
Secondary outcomes
1
Description
Hospital admission duration due to SARS-CoV-2
Timepoint
At the beginning and weekly for up to 12 months
Method of measurement
Review of hospital records
2
Description
Hospital admission due to documented SARS-CoV-2 infection
Timepoint
Review of hospital records
Method of measurement
Incidnce of hospitalization days due to documented SARS-CoV-2 infection
3
Description
Pneumonia
Timepoint
At the beginning and weekly for up to 12 months
Method of measurement
Number of pneumonia cases with abnormal chest X-rays or CT scan and evaluation the extent of lung involvement
4
Description
Mechanical ventilation duration with SARS-CoV-2
Timepoint
At the beginning and weekly for up to 12 months
Method of measurement
Review of hospital records
5
Description
ICU admission duration due to SARS-CoV-2
Timepoint
At the beginning and weekly for up to 12 months
Method of measurement
Review of hospital records
6
Description
Mechanical ventilation usage in patients with SARS-CoV-2
Timepoint
At the beginning and weekly for up to 12 months
Method of measurement
Review of hospital records
7
Description
Number of days absence at work due to febrile respiratory illness
Timepoint
At the beginning and weekly for up to 12 months
Method of measurement
self-reporting
8
Description
Seroconversion of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies (IgM,G)
Timepoint
At the beginning, during the study (if symptoms occurs) and at 12 months
Method of measurement
Measurement of plasma/serum SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies (IgM,G) at vaccination time and also the end of the study period.
9
Description
Intensive care unit admission due to documented SARS-CoV-2 infection
Timepoint
At the beginning and weekly for up to 12 months
Method of measurement
Review of hospital records
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group: Healthcare workers who are exposed to the pandemic virus (COVID-19) will be randomly assigned to receive 0.1 ml intradermal injection of BCG vaccine. All participants will be followed-up for 12 months by text messages (up to weekly). The Mantoux Tuberculin skin test (before receiving the BCG vaccine) will be performed by intradermal injection of 0.1 ml (PPD) in front of the left forearm. This test will be read after 48-72 hours, a positive tuberculin test is 10 mm or more. Blood samples will be collected at the beginning and 12 months for PCR and antibody detection.
Category
Prevention
2
Description
Control group: Healthcare workers who are exposed to the pandemic virus (COVID-19) will be randomly assigned to receive 0.1 ml intradermal injection of BCG vaccine. All participants will be followed-up for 12 months by text messages (up to weekly). The Mantoux Tuberculin skin test (before receiving the BCG vaccine) will be performed by intradermal injection of 0.1 ml (PPD) in front of the left forearm. This test will be read after 48-72 hours, a positive tuberculin test is 10 mm or more. Blood samples will be collected at the beginning and 12 months for PCR and antibody detection.
Category
Placebo
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Ali asghar hospital
Full name of responsible person
Ali Akbari
Street address
Meshkinfam St.
City
Shiraz
Province
Fars
Postal code
1879671439
Phone
+98 71 3228 8602
Fax
+98 71 3228 8907
Email
aliasghar@sums.ac.ir
2
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Faghihi hospital
Full name of responsible person
Mohsen Moghademi
Street address
Zand St.
City
Shiraz
Province
Fars
Postal code
7134844119
Phone
+98 71 3235 1087
Email
faghihihsp@sums.ac.ir
Web page address
3
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Rajaee hospital
Full name of responsible person
Ali Akbari
Street address
Chamran Blv.
City
Shiraz
Province
Fars
Postal code
7194815711
Phone
+98 71 3636 4001
Email
rajaeehospital@sums.ac.ir
4
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
Nemazi hospital
Full name of responsible person
Mohsen Moghadami
Street address
Zand st.
City
Shiraz
Province
Fars
Postal code
7193613311
Phone
+98 71 3647 4332
Email
nemazee_inf@sums.ac.ir
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Professor Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz University of Mdical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
GHolamreza Pouladfar
Street address
Nemazi hospital. Zand streat
City
Shiraz
Province
Fars
Postal code
71936-13311
Phone
+98 71 3647 4304
Email
alborzicmrc@sums.ac.ir
Grant name
covid-19 grant
Grant code / Reference number
99-01-106-22342
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
No
Title of funding source
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Proportion provided by this source
25
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Bahman Pourabbas
Position
Assisstant professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Microbiology
Street address
Prof. Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center - Nemazi Hospital- Zand St.- ُShiraz - Iran
City
شیراز
Province
Fars
Postal code
7193613311
Phone
+98 71 3647 4304
Fax
+98 71 3647 4303
Email
pourabbasb@sums.ac.ir
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Gholamreza Pouladfar
Position
Associate professor
Latest degree
Subspecialist
Other areas of specialty/work
Infectious diseases
Street address
Clinical Microbiology Research Center- Nemazi hospital- Zand st.
City
Shiraz
Province
Fars
Postal code
7193613311
Phone
+98 71 3647 4304
Email
pouladfar_ghr@hotmail.com
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Bahman Pourabbas
Position
Assistant professor
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Microbiology
Street address
Prof. Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center - Nemazi Hospital- Zand St.- ُShiraz - Iran
City
Shiraz
Province
Fars
Postal code
7193613311
Phone
+98 71 3647 4304
Fax
+98 71 3647 4303
Email
pourabbasb@sums.ac.ir
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Yes - There is a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Not applicable
Data Dictionary
Not applicable
Title and more details about the data/document
All collected deidentified IPD will be shared.
When the data will become available and for how long
The data will become available starting 6 months after publication for 1 year.
To whom data/document is available
It will be available for people working in academic institutions.
Under which criteria data/document could be used
The data will be shared by request and the persons who are responsible for general and scientific inequires will review the request.
From where data/document is obtainable
person who are responsible for general inequires:
Bahman Pourabbas
bpourabbas@yahoo.com
person who are responsible for scientific inequires:
Gholamreza Pouladfar
pouladfar_ghr@hotmail.com
What processes are involved for a request to access data/document
The academic applicants should send their request by email. The responsible persons will answer up to 2 weeks.