title: Post-Vaccination Disseminated Bacillus Calmette Guerin Infection Among Children in Southern Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Disseminated bacillus calmette guerin (BCG) infection is a rare but life threatening complication of BCG vaccination. It has been mainly seen in severe immune deficiency. A precise and rapid diagnosis is crucial for prompt initiation of an aggressive anti-mycobacterial treatment. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is directly applicable to smear-positive clinical specimens, proven to be a rapid and specific diagnostic test.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate disseminated BCG infection among 34 children in southern Iran, mainly confirmed by PCR.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included all the patients hospitalized with disseminated BCG infection at a referral teaching hospital in southern Iran between years 1990 and 2007. The clinical and laboratory data including the immunological workups were obtained through a review of the medical files. We recalled all pathology samples from pathology specimen banks and used an in-house PCR specific for Mycobacterium bovis BCG substrain to confirm the diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the total of 34 children hospitalized with disseminated BCG infection, 21 were categorized as definite and 13 probable. Thirty-one patients (91%) were under two years of age and 41% were male. The most common clinical findings were fever in 31 (91.2%), axillary's lymphadenopathy in 26 (76.5%), hepatosplenomegaly in 25 (73.5%), stunted growth in 21 (61.8%), and distant lymphadenopathy in 16 (47.1%). Polymerase Chain Reaction positivity rate was 100% (9 of 9) in bone marrow smear slides and 84.2% (16 of 19) for formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue specimens. Immunodeficiency state was detected in 50% and the overall mortality rate was 58.8% (20 of 34).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Disseminated BCG infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infants and young children with fever, hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, and history of BCG vaccination. The PCR method has a high positivity rate and can serve as a useful tool for the rapid and specific identification of M. bovis BCG substrain infection.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Infection Control and Hand Hygiene Research Center, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, IR Iran.
authors: Mohammad Hasan
authors: MH
authors: Aelami
authors: Professor Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Nemazee Teaching Hospital, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Abdolvahab
authors: A
authors: Alborzi
authors: Professor Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Nemazee Teaching Hospital, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Gholamreza
authors: G
authors: Pouladfar
authors: Transplant Research Center, Pathology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Bita
authors: B
authors: Geramizadeh
authors: Professor Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Nemazee Teaching Hospital, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Bahman
authors: B
authors: Pourabbas
authors: Professor Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Nemazee Teaching Hospital, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors: Jalal
authors: J
authors: Mardaneh
keywords: BCG Vaccine; Disseminated BCG and Salmonella Infection; Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes; Iran; Polymerase Chain Reaction