Mycobacterial Arthritis at 19 Months After a Bacille Calmette–Guérin Vaccination

A 20-month-old afebrile boy living in northern Taiwan presented with swelling of the right knee for 5 days. No other respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms were associated. A bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination had been performed when he was 1 month of age. The X-ray showed no bony destruction, and the sonography revealed some fluid accumulation in the right suprapatellar pouch. Arthrocentesis was performed, and characteristically creamcolored pus was drained (Figure 1). The knee swelling persisted, and magnetic resonance imaging showed abscess formation in the right suprapatellar bursa (Figures 2 and 3). Furthermore, surgical debridement was performed, and histological examination revealed granulomatous inflammation with caseation necrosis. The pus culture yielded Mycobacterium bovis. The patient was immunocompetent and was administered with isoniazid and rifampicin. He recovered without complications. Tuberculosis remains an important health threat and the live attenuated BCG vaccine was used to prevent childhood tuberculosis. In 2009, the annual incidence of tuberculosis in Taiwan was approximately 69 cases/100,000 persons, and the Tokyo-172 BCG vaccination was included in the national immunization program with a coverage rate of 97%. BCG-related arthritis and osteitis is a rare but severe complication. The lower extremities are most