Precautions About Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Vaccine Medical Wiki


Main Article	Precautions	Side Effects	Forum

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Vaccine Precautions

	Original Author Healthocrates Staff
	Physician/Scientist James Minor
	Health Care Professional No contributions yet. Be the first!
	Contributing Member No contributions yet. Be the first!
	Add New Topic Tab

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Vaccine Precautions

Precautions:

Before starting BCG treatments, make sure you tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking (including over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or herbal remedies).
BCG may be inadvisable in tuberculin positive individuals.
Inform your health care professional if you are pregnant or may be pregnant prior to starting this treatment. Pregnancy category C (use in pregnancy only if benefit to mother outweighs risk to the fetus).
To avoid transmission of BCG to others, for 6 hours after treatment patients should void (urinate) while seated to avoid splashing of urine. Urine voided during this time should be disinfected with 2 cups of household bleach into the toilet water and letting it stand for 15-20 minutes before flushing.
Men having this treatment can pass on BCG during sex. To protect your partner from coming into contact with BCG, you should not have sex for 48 hours after each treatment. Use a condom if you have sex at other times during the treatment course and for six weeks after treatment has ended.
For both men and women: Do not conceive a child (get pregnant) while taking BCG treatments. Barrier methods of contraception, such as condoms, are recommended. Discuss with your doctor when you may safely become pregnant after therapy.
Do not breast-feed while taking this medication.

Self-care tips:

Limit fluid intake for 6-10 hrs before treatment and for 2 hours following installation of BCG, afterward resume normal fluid intake.
Avoid caffeine and alcohol on treatment days. This is due to the diuretic and irritant properties of these substances.
Get plenty of rest.
Maintain good nutrition.

If you experience symptoms or side effects, be sure to discuss them with your health care team. They can prescribe medications and/or offer other suggestions that are effective in managing such problems.

Monitoring and testing:

You will be monitored regularly by your doctor while you are receiving treatment with BCG. Your doctor will order blood tests and other tests as needed to monitor side effects and check your response to therapy.

How this drug works:

Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is an inactivated form of the tuberculosis bacteria. It works against cancer as a biologic response modifier. Biological response modifiers are substances that have no direct antitumor effect but are able to trigger the immune system to indirectly affect tumors.

BCG is thought to bring about an immune response in the bladder by triggering an inflammatory reaction in the bladder. This reaction brings disease-fighting white blood cells and cytokines (proteins produced by one cell that influence the behavior of other cells) to the bladder. The immune system cells then fight directly against the tumor cells. The cytokine response changes the environment in the bladder that may inhibit future tumor growth and progression.

Note: We strongly encourage you to talk with your health care professional about your specific medical condition and treatments. The information contained in this website is meant to be helpful and educational, but is not a substitute for medical advice.

Notes:
DrJMinor

[Watch page ]

EditText of this page (last edited December 12, 2009)