Erythromycin in the management of troublesome BCG lesions

Treatment of Calmette-Guérin bacillus adenitis: a metaanalysis

Various treatments have been used to decrease the risk of suppuration; the most troublesome complication of Calmette-Guerin bacillus adenitis, but results are controversial. Metaanalysis of four randomized controlled trials revealed no significant difference in the frequency of suppuration between the treatment and control groups for all treatments [relative risk (RR), 1.10; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.88 to 1.38], erythromycin (RR 1.04; 95% CI 0.79 to 1.37) and isoniazid (RR 1.35; 95% CI 0.84 to 2.18). Therefore medical treatment does not reduce the frequency of suppuration in Calmette-Guerin bacillus adenitis.

Development of subcutaneous abscesses due to Mycobacterium bovis following hepatitis and bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccination

Vaccination to prevent hepatitis B and tuberculosis (TB) forms a part of the national immunization program in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The hepatitis B vaccination was introduced in the Makkah region in January 1991G. Since then, 25 children have developed post vaccination subcutaneous abscesses at the site of vaccination. Microbiological studies proved these to be of bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine (BCG) origin. Ten patients were treated successfully with isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin and 15 with INH alone. Four patients required incision and drainage. Possible reasons for this complication in our patients are discussed.

Pulmonary Mycobacterium kansasii infection successfully treated with a regimen containing erythromycin

We report a case in which erythromycin was used in place of rifampicin after a severe reaction to the latter in the treatment of pulmonary Mycobacterium kansasii infection.