Disseminated bacille Calmette-Guérin disease in Saudi children: clinical profile, microbiology, immunology evaluation and outcome

OBJECTIVE

The bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) vaccine is administered worldwide to prevent tuberculosis. Although, Post BCG vaccination complications like disseminated BCG infections are rare and immunocompromised children are at high risk of developing BCG-related complications including BCG-lymphadenitis and other disseminated diseases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a prospective study of children who developed disseminated BCG after vaccination who were admitted in three tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in the year 2015. The clinical presentation, microbiological/immunological evaluation and outcome will be discussed.

RESULTS

12 cases (7 males and 5 females) of disseminated BCG infections after vaccination were documented with age ranges 3 and 32 months. Eight (66%) patients had interleukin IL-12 deficiency and 3 (25%) had severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) and 1 (8%) had Interferon gamma receptor II deficiency. 9 (75%) patients presented with generalized lymphadenopathy. Hepatosplenomegaly was present in 6 (50%) patients. 2 (16%) patients presented with a recurrent skin infection and persistent oral candidiasis in one patient and pneumonia in the other. Five (41%) families were from 1st degree consanguineous marriage. Tuberculosis (TB) culture and sensitivity were positive for Mycobacterium bovis from gastric aspirate (GA) in 4 patients and the lymph node in 9 patients and 1 patient had culture positive from both skin lesion and lymph nodes. Mycobacterium bovis PCR was positive in 4 patients. All patients received anti-tuberculosis therapy; all patients survived except one who died due to multi-organ failure.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that the prevalence of disseminated BCG vaccine in immunocompromised Saudi children is significantly high. Since in our region we have a high consanguinity rate and a high number of primary immune deficiency disorder (PID), we believe that BCG vaccination should be postponed till a child reaches one-year-old and appropriate tests exclude the diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency diseases.

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin lymphadenitis: a 6-year experience in two Saudi hospitals

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccination as a part of the global expanded program for immunization. Although the BCG vaccine is usually a safe vaccine, a number of complications with lymphadenitis being the most common complication, can occur.

AIM

We evaluated the frequency, the clinical presentation and treatment modalities of lymphadenitis after BCG vaccine in Saudi children.

RESULTS

A total of 145 patients with BCG lymphadenitis presented between January 2005 and December 2010. In the majority (103) of the cases, the lymphadenitis involved ipsilateral left axillary nodes. Other sites of involvement included the left supraclavicular lymph nodes in 26 (18%) patients, and both the left axillary and supraclavicular lymph nodes were involved in 7 cases (4.8%). A total of 75 patients (65%) were given antituberculous medication. Eight (27%) patients had positive acid-fast bacilli and positive cultures for Mycobacterium bovis.

CONCLUSION

In light of the findings of this study, it would be advisable to administer the BCG vaccine in Saudi Arabia at a time later than at birth, as the younger children are commonly affected.

Repair of the mitral valve because of pure rheumatic mitral valvar incompetence in the young

Between January 1985 and April 1994, 42 children aged between 7 and 14 years (mean 11.3 years) underwent repair of severely incompetent rheumatic mitral valves with no accompanying mitral stenosis. In 19 patients the tricuspid valve was severely incompetent, while 8 patients had severe aortic incompetence. Overall, the repair incorporated shortening of elongated tendinous cords and insertion of a Duran or Carpentier prosthetic ring. The repair was the sole procedure in 15 patients, whilst 19 patients also had a De Vega tricuspid valvar annuloplasty and 8 had repair or replacement of the aortic valve. There were no hospital deaths. Postoperative transthoracic echocardiographic studies revealed trivial residual mitral valvar regurgitation in 6 patients, mild regurgitation in 18, moderate in 15, and regurgitation severe enough to warrant replacement of the mitral valve in 3 patients. The mean follow-up period was 37 months (maximum 120 months, minimum 1 month). Of 39 patients followed-up, 28 attended for more than 5 years. Of these, 7 underwent replacement of the mitral valve for severe regurgitation within 4 years of the repair. Severe mitral regurgitation in 3 patients was controlled by medical therapy. One was eventually lost to follow-up, and one patient died of causes unrelated to surgery. The remaining 16 patients had absent to moderate mitral valvar regurgitation. These results contrast with 10 repairs of congenital mitral incompetence, where no patients required re-operation in the immediate 5 years period of follow-up. Every effort should be made in children with rheumatic mitral incompetence to preserve the natural valve by conservative repair, despite the fact that repair of the incompetent rheumatic mitral valve is not so durable as repair of congenitally incompetent valves.