Osteomyelitis following Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination

ABSTRACT

Secondary complications after Bacille Calmette-Guerin [BCG] vaccination are unusual. We describe 3 immunocompetent children who developed osteomyelitis after BCG vaccination. The course of the disease is not dramatic, but marked changes are frequently visible in plain radiograph and MRI. The real-time polymerase chain reaction has an essential role to confirm the diagnosis of BCG osteomyelitis. With proper surgical intervention and chemotherapy, the prognosis is usually good