Disseminated bacille calmette-guérin infection at a glance: A mini review of the literature

Abstract

Introduction: Immunodeficient children are at a high risk of disseminated Bacillus Calmette-Guérin [BCG] infection. We assessed the literature on clinical manifestations of BCGosis in children with specific primary immunodeficiencies. Material and methods: We conducted a systematic review of clinical practice articles by searching Medline, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar from their inception to date. Results: Thirty-seven articles were included regarding BCG vaccination and its dissemination in children with primary immunodeficiencies. Articles on dissemination after intravesicular BCG were excluded from the study. Conclusions: Since disseminated BCG vaccination may be the first manifestation of a primary immunodeficiency disease, a comprehensive search for immunological defects in children developing these problems after BCG vaccination seems rational.