Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-itis of the hand: A potential hazard for health workers

The bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccine has been used widely for several decades in tuberculosis prophylaxis. More recently, it has been used therapeutically in the management of neoplastic diseases such as malignant melanoma and urinary bladder tumors, Complications of the b. Calmette-Guerin vaccine and therapy are widely reported in the literature, However, its potential hazard to health workers is not well described, We present a case of b. Calmette-Guerinitis on the extensor surface of the left ring finger of a surgical resident following an accidental prick with a contaminated syringe while installing intravesical b. Calmette-Guerin to a patient being treated for a bladder tumor, A brief review of tuberculous hand infection is presented together with its recommended treatment. A review of the various usages of b. Calmette-Guerin is also presented, stressing the various reported complications.