TITLE:
Septic Shock after Intravesical BCG Instillation—A Case Report
AUTHORS:
Cristóvão Figueiredo, Diana Póvoas, Carlos Alves, Alcina Ferreira, Paulo Figueiredo, Teresa Carvalho, Angélica Ramos, Lurdes Santos, António Sarmento
KEYWORDS:
Bacillus Calmette-Guérin; BCG; Sepsis; Shock
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.3 No.4,
December
3,
2013
ABSTRACT: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a live attenuated form of Mycobacterium bovis, initially used in
medicine as a vaccination agent only. The discovery
of its antineoplastic effects in bladder cancer has led to the widespread recognition of BCG intravesical instillation as a
therapeutic option. Although sepsis following BCG intravesical instillation is
rare, it is nonetheless a dreadful and potentially fatal complication. Therapy usually relies on antituberculous therapy and
steroids, alongside with intensive care unit admission. The authors report a case of a 67-year-old male patient who developed septic
shock with multiple organ dysfunction after intravesical BCG instillation and
review the currently available knowledge concerning the risk factors,
diagnosis, management and prevention of BCG sepsis.