MYCOBACTERIUM-BOVIS OSTEOMYELITIS INVOLVING A HIP-ARTHROPLASTY AFTER INTRAVESICULAR BACILLE CALMETTE-GUERIN FOR BLADDER-CANCER

Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG), an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium b ovis, is one of the most effective agents in the treatment of superfic ial bladder cancer. BCG osteomyelitis is an infrequent complication of intravesicular BCG therapy; only five cases of BCG vertebral osteomye litis have been reported in the literature. Similarly, the infection o f an indwelling extravascular device by BCG is rare; there is only one previous report documenting infection associated with an automated im plantable cardiac defibrillator. We report a case of BCG osteomyelitis involving a hip arthroplasty that occurred after intravesicular admin istration of BCG for bladder cancer, and we review the risk factors pr edisposing to such infections and their treatment.