Long-term course and treatment of a cutaneous BCG infection

J Dermatolog Treat. 2008;19(6):333-6. doi: 10.1080/09546630802050480.

Abstract

The authors report and discuss a rare case of the long-term course and treatment of cutaneous BCG infection in an HIV-negative, healthy nurse. Over 5 years we cured the wrist and lower leg cutaneous tuberculosis infection caused by an accident at work. Persistent antituberculous therapy and surgical procedure were applied, but after detection of an encapsulated abscess in the wrist followed by needle aspiration, antituberculous therapy was sufficient and our patient was cured. Failing the addition of local applications, antituberculous therapy with radical surgical treatment remains the recommended treatment in cutaneous infections.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Occupational*
  • Adult
  • Antitubercular Agents / therapeutic use
  • BCG Vaccine / adverse effects*
  • Ethambutol / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Isoniazid / therapeutic use
  • Leg / microbiology
  • Mycobacterium bovis / isolation & purification*
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / drug therapy*
  • Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / microbiology*
  • Tuberculosis, Cutaneous / surgery
  • Wrist / microbiology

Substances

  • Antitubercular Agents
  • BCG Vaccine
  • Ethambutol
  • Isoniazid
  • Rifampin