To investigate severe infectious complications after intravesical treatment with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). We examine a retrospective case series of ten patients between 2006 and 2018 with severe cystitis or systemic infection after BCG.
Patients with BCG cystitis or disseminated infection were retrospectively identified between 2006 and 2018 at our institution. Cases were reviewed for bladder cancer treatments, demographics, treatment of infection, and outcomes.
There was a 0.8% rate of severe BCG cystitis or disseminated infection. Seven patients experienced delayed-onset infections > 3 months after last BCG instillation. Four had isolated bladder symptoms, and five had diverse systemic manifestations. One patient was asymptomatic and diagnosed on cystoscopic findings. All were treated with varied antibiotic regimens; nine included anti-tuberculous therapy, and one was treated with levofloxacin alone. Two underwent cystectomy for end-stage bladder. The remaining patients are asymptomatic with no residual effects. All are in remission for bladder cancer.
Severe infectious complications after BCG are rare and thus difficult to study. Treatment regimens can vary widely. Thorough reporting of patient outcomes is essential to expand the limited body of knowledge.
Urology. 2019 Nov 06 [Epub ahead of print]
Courtney Yong, Ryan L Steinberg, Michael A O'Donnell
University of Iowa, Department of Urology., University of Texas Southwestern, Department of Urology., University of Iowa, Department of Urology. Electronic address: .