DISSEMINATED INFECTION WITH BACILLUS-CALMETTE-GUERIN IN A CHILD WITH ADVANCED HIV DISEASE

An 8-month-old boy with vertically acquired HIV-infection who develope d a disseminated BCG infection is described. The patient had been immu nized at birth with BCG. In spite of a normal CD-4 lymphocyte count, h e suffered from fever, anaemia and failure to thrive. BCG was isolated by culture from CSF, bone marrow and peripheral blood. Anti-tuberculo us treatment initially seemed successful, but shortly after, the patie nt died from Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. In symptomatic HIV-infect ed children originating from countries with BCG immunization programs, disseminated BCG infection should be considered.