Korean J Pediatr Infect Dis.  2011 Jun;18(1):91-96.

A Case of Disseminated Mycobacterium bovis Infection after BCG Vaccination (Tokyo strain) in an Apparently Immunocompetent Infant

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. eunchoi@snu.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine is a live attenuated vaccine derived from Mycobacterium bovis. Frequent complications after BCG vaccination are localized ulcer formation and regional lymphadenitis, but there could be rarely severe systemic reactions to BCG vaccine such as osteomyelitis and disseminated BCG infection. Although disseminated BCG infection can be complicated in infants with underlying immunodeficiency after BCG vaccination, it is very unlikely to develop in immunocompetent infants or children. We report a 13-month-old infant who presented with fever, skin nodules, and multiple enlarged lymph nodes 5 months following BCG vaccination. She was diagnosed with disseminated BCG infection by PCR-confirmed M. bovis BCG infection at > or =2 anatomical sites beyond the region of vaccination. The patient showed no obvious evidence of immunodeficiency as judged on the basis of previous disease history, plasma immunoglobulin levels, B and T lymphocytes counts in peripheral blood, DHR (dihydrorhodamine 123 fluorescence) test and HIV test. She started antituberculous treatment with isoniazid and rifampin, and now, apparently her symptoms have been improved.

Keyword

Disseminated BCG Infection; Mycobacterium bovis Infection; Immunocompetent patient

MeSH Terms

BCG Vaccine
Child
Fever
HIV
Humans
Immunoglobulins
Infant
Isoniazid
Lymph Nodes
Lymphadenitis
Mycobacterium
Mycobacterium bovis
Osteomyelitis
Plasma
Rifampin
Skin
T-Lymphocytes
Ulcer
Vaccination
BCG Vaccine
Immunoglobulins
Isoniazid
Rifampin

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