Neonatal BCG policy and childhood tuberculosis in the Republic of Ireland.

Most, but not all, counties in the Republic of Ireland have neonatal BCG as standard policy. Data on hospital admissions due to tuberculosis were used as an indicator of the impact of local BCG policy on tuberculosis in childhood. Counties which do not have neonatal BCG as standard policy were associated with a significantly higher rate of tuberculosis (relative risk = 3.8) among those less than 15 years of age. Any review of national BCG policy should take this result into consideration.