[BCGitis following intravesical administration of bacillus Calmette-Guérin]

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin immunotherapy is currently the most effective treatment for non-infiltrating bladder tumors. Although rare, « BCGitis », local or disseminated, is a serious complication of this therapy. The diagnosis is difficult and often delayed but the infection may progress to multi-systemic failure and can be fatal. The microbiological samples are often negative, and biopsies sometimes do not help. Treatment consists of antimycobacterial agents in combination with corticosteroids in case of severe presentation.