Objective: Intravesical administration of bacillus Calmette-Guérin is standard adjuvant treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. In spite of the fact that this immunotherapy is locoregional, there are still risk of some complications.
Methods: We describe two cases of systemic BCG infection after intravesical administration of BCG vaccine in patients with early stage of bladder cancer.
Results: Both patients suffered from systemic BCG infection manifesting as BCG pneumonitis. After standard therapy with antituberculotic agents, both of them fully recovered.
Conclusion: BCG infection can occur as a rare but potentially serious complication of this treatment procedure. Gravity of this side effect and its specific therapy require prompt and right diagnosis.
Keywords: bacillus Calmette-Guérin; bladder cancer; intravesical therapy.