About mycobacterium bovis
Live attenuated bacterial vaccine and immunotherapy
Used for
- Treats certain non-muscle-invasive bladder cancers after tumour removal
- Reduces risk of bladder cancer recurrence and progression
Usual adult dose
Usually 50–120 mg in the bladder weekly for six weeks, followed by maintenance courses; dose depends on product and local protocol.
Common side effects
- Painful or frequent urination
- Blood in urine
- Flu-like symptoms, including fever and fatigue
- Bladder inflammation
Important warnings
- For bladder instillation only; never inject into a vein or muscle.
- Treatment may cause serious, sometimes delayed, whole-body BCG infection.
- Avoid during active urinary infection, visible blood in urine, or shortly after bladder surgery.
- Do not use in severe immune deficiency; specialist assessment is needed.
Pregnancy
Generally avoided during pregnancy because it contains live bacteria; human safety data are limited.
Breastfeeding
Safety is not established; specialist assessment is needed before treatment.
Interactions
- Immune-suppressing medicines may reduce effectiveness and increase infection risk.
- Antibiotics active against mycobacteria may reduce BCG effectiveness.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.