Unintended Self-Inoculation with Bovine Paratuberculosis Vaccine Causing Granulomatous Dermatitis Positive for...

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis causes Johne's disease in cattle, a chronic granulomatous enteritis for which a killed vaccine is commercially available. We present a case of a veterinarian who had an unintended needle-stick with injection of vaccine material. He developed a granulomatous dermatitis with acid-fast bacilli identified on pathology of affected tissue. It is important for health-care providers who care for patients at risk for unintended vaccine exposure to be aware of the possible sequelae after exposure and provide appropriate treatment based on the severity of the injury and subsequent tissue response.