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Sternal abscess as a complication of BCG-revaccination
S Similä1, E Liedes, P Kinnunen
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Finland.
Tubercle
|March 1, 1988
Summary
A sternal abscess developed 14 months post-BCG revaccination in a teenage girl. Mycobacterium bovis, identified as a BCG strain, was cultured from the abscess.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination is a widely used tuberculosis vaccine.
- Adverse reactions to BCG vaccination are rare but can occur.
- Sternal abscesses are uncommon complications following vaccination.
Observation:
- A 14-year-old female presented with a sternal abscess.
- The abscess appeared 14 months after receiving BCG revaccination.
- Clinical presentation suggested a deep-seated infection.
Findings:
- Microbiological culture of abscess aspirate identified Mycobacterium bovis.
- Genetic analysis confirmed the Mycobacterium bovis isolate to be a strain of BCG.
- This indicates a persistent or reactivated BCG infection.
Implications:
- Sternal abscesses can be a late-onset complication of BCG vaccination.
- Accurate identification of the causative agent is crucial for appropriate treatment.
- This case highlights the importance of considering BCG strains in differential diagnoses of sternal infections post-vaccination.