Bacillus calmette-guerin strain is an anticancer drug that belongs to the category of medicines known as vaccines. It was approved in 1977 to treat bladder cancer.

Bacillus calmette-guerin strain has been developed to treat bladder cancer.

It will be given to you by a doctor or nurse in a hospital or clinic setting trained in cancer chemotherapy. The Bacillus calmette-guerin strain is usually given as an intravesical injection which is administered directly into the bladder through a catheter by your doctor. Do not self-administer the injection. Your doctor will decide the dose and duration of the treatment based on your disease severity, body weight, and other factors.

The common side effects that are likely to occur while you are on the treatment with Bacillus calmette-guerin strain are frequency and urgency of urination, painful urination, inflammation of the bladder, urinary tract infection, and fever. If you experience any allergic or unusual reactions after taking this medicine, report to your doctor immediately.

Do not take Bacillus calmette-guerin strain if you are allergic to it or any other ingredients of this medicine. Report to your physician if you face any symptoms of sudden difficulty in breathing, fever, redness or flushing of the skin, or a rash, nausea, or vomiting after the administration of the injection. This medicine is not recommended for children and young people under 18 years of age. Use an effective method of contraception while being treated with this injection. Avoid pregnancy and breastfeeding during the treatment, as it can cause harm to the foetus.

This injection is contraindicated in individuals with a weakened immune system. It is a live bacteria and can potentially cause infections in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with HIV, cancer, or who are receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Bacillus calmette-guerin strain may not be recommended for individuals who have a history of tuberculosis, as it may not be effective in preventing a new infection or may interfere with the diagnosis of a new infection.

If you are planning to receive any vaccines, including the yellow fever vaccine, you should inform your doctor and discuss the risks and benefits of receiving the vaccine while undergoing treatment with this drug. This Bacillus calmette-guerin strain may cause UTIs, so it is necessary to maintain good hygiene and to drink plenty of fluids during the treatment to prevent urinary tract infections.

1. Ciplamed, [Published on 16/08/2017] (Accessed: 29 April 2023), https://5.imimg.com/data5/BJ/HT/LM/SELLER-4164638/sii-onco-bcg-injection.pdf
2. Dominic H Tang, Sam S Chang; Management of carcinoma in situ of the bladder: best practice and recent developments; Therapeutic Advances in Urology; Published on Dec 2015;(Accessed: 29 April 2023); https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26622320
3. Pettenati C, Ingersoll MA, Mechanisms of BCG immunotherapy and its outlook for bladder cancer; Natural Reviews, Urology; Published on Oct 2018;(Accessed: 29 April 2023); https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29991725/
4. Onco-BCG Injection (BCG for immunotherapy I.P - freeze-dried). Available at: https://5.imimg.com/data5/BJ/HT/LM/SELLER-4164638/sii-onco-bcg-injection.pdf (Accessed: 29 April 2023).
5. Goodman & Gilman’s, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, Immunosuppressants, Tolerogens, and Immunostimulants, 12th edition, 2011, 1022.
6. KD Tripathi, Essentials of Medical Pharmacology, Vaccines and sera, 7th edition, 2013, 922.

The drug information on this page is not a substitute for medical advice, it is meant for educational purposes only. For further details consult your doctor about your medical condition to know if you are eligible to receive this treatment.