BCG Full Form

BCG Full Form: Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) is a weakened live bacteria used to treat bladder cancer. A doctor puts it directly into your bladder through a thin tube called a catheter. Most people only feel some irritation in the bladder. You might also run a fever, get chills, or feel like you have the flu.

A few people can be allergic to BCG. If you have trouble breathing, wheezing, or get hives, get medical help right away. BCG treatment isn’t right for everyone with bladder cancer. Your doctor will check your health and decide if it’s a good option for you. It has been included in the national vaccination program in many countries including India.

BCG Overview

Feature	Details
Full Name	Bacillus Calmette-Guérin
Type	Live attenuated bacterial vaccine
Developed By	Albert Calmette & Camille Guérin
First Used on Humans	1921
Main Purpose	Prevention of Tuberculosis (TB)
Also Protects Against	Buruli ulcer, Leprosy, and bladder cancer (non-invasive)
Commonly Given To	Newborn babies in high TB-risk countries
Route of Administration	Usually intradermal (skin injection)
BCG Common Side Effects	Redness, blister, mild fever
Serious Side Effects	Suppurative lymphadenitis, osteomyelitis

BCG Vaccine Full Form

BCG Vaccine stands for Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccine. It is a live vaccine developed by Calmette and Guérin. One million doses were made from a weakened strain of Mycobacterium bovis, or M. bovis, after 231 laboratory tests between 1908 and 1921.

BCG was introduced for human use in 1921. Mass vaccination of people with negative tuberculin skin tests started in Poland in 1948. The BCG vaccine was first used for treatment in 1921, and it is listed on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines.

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BCG Full Form in Hindi

बैसिलस कैलमेट-गुएरिन (BCG) माइकोबैक्टीरियम बोविस का जीवित क्षीणित टीका है जिसका उपयोग तपेदिक और अन्य माइकोबैक्टीरियल संक्रमणों को रोकने के लिए किया जाता है। बैसिलस कैलमेट-गुएरिन (BCG) उपचार एक प्रकार का इंट्रावेसिकल (आपके मूत्राशय में) इम्यूनोथेरेपी है। यह तरल दवा माइकोबैक्टीरियम बोविस के एक स्ट्रेन से बनाई जाती है – वही जीवाणु जिसका उपयोग तपेदिक के टीके को बनाने के लिए किया जाता है।

How Does the BCG Vaccine Work?

• The BCG vaccine uses a weak form of TB bacteria.
• It trains your immune system to recognize and fight TB germs.
• Once injected, the body creates memory cells to fight real TB in future.
• It protects mainly against severe TB forms like TB meningitis in children.
• The vaccine also offers some protection against leprosy and other infections.
• It doesn’t always prevent lung TB but reduces the severity if infected.

Objectives of BCG Vaccination

• Prevent TB in children and infants.
• Protect against severe forms of TB like: TB meningitis (brain) and Miliary TB (spread throughout the body)
• Reduce childhood deaths due to infections.
• Build long-term immune response.
• Offer some protection against non-TB infections like leprosy.

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Who Should Get the BCG Vaccine?

Recommended For:

• All newborns in countries with high TB rates.
• Children under 5 are at high risk of TB.
• School children (7–14 years).
• Healthcare workers.
• Travelers going to areas where TB prevalence is high.
• Individuals are exposed to multidrug-resistant TB.

Not Recommended For:

• Countries with very low TB infection rates.
• People with a history of tuberculosis infection.
• Anyone who has had positive tuberculin skin test (TST).
• Immunocompromised individuals, including:
  • People with HIV
  • Patients on chemotherapy or steroids
  • People with congenital immune disorders

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Contraindications: Who Should Avoid BCG?

Group	Reasons to Avoid the BCG Vaccine
Immunocompromised patients	Live vaccines can cause severe infection
HIV-positive individuals	Risk of disseminated BCG disease
Pregnant women	Safety is not established
People with TB infection	No benefit; may worsen side effects

Method of Administration

• A pre-injection tuberculin skin test is done before giving the BCG vaccine. A positive tuberculin skin test means that BCG should not be given due to the risk of serious local inflammation and scarring. It does not show immunity. BCG is also not recommended for individuals with defects in the IL-12 receptor pathway.
• Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) is given as a single intradermal injection at the insertion of the deltoid. If BCG is accidentally given subcutaneously, a local abscess may form (a “BCG-oma”) which may sometimes ulcerate, and may require immediate treatment with antibiotics, otherwise without treatment the infection may spread, causing serious damage to vital organs.
• Abscess is not always associated with incorrect administration, and is one of the more common complications with vaccination. Several medical studies have been carried out on the treatment of these abscesses with antibiotics, with varying results, but the consensus is that once the pus is aspirated and analysed, provided there are no abnormal bacilli present, the abscess usually resolves on its own within a few weeks.
• The distinctive raised scar that forms after BCG vaccination is often used as evidence of previous vaccination. This scar should be distinguished from smallpox vaccination, which it may resemble. When given for bladder cancer, the vaccine is not injected through the skin, but rather inserted into the bladder through the urethra using a soft catheter.

BCG Vaccine Dosage and Method

• Usually given once, at birth or shortly after.
• Intradermal injection: a small amount injected under the skin.
• Site: Usually the left upper arm.
• No booster dose is currently recommended by WHO.

BCG Immunization Schedule

Age Group	Recommendation
Newborns	One dose at birth
Under 5 years	If not vaccinated earlier
Adults	Not recommended routinely
Healthcare workers (High-risk)	Considered in some countries

Benefits of BCG Vaccine

• Reduces risk of severe childhood TB.
• May lower general childhood mortality.
• Some protection from leprosy and Buruli ulcer.
• Helps prevent bladder cancer recurrence (when used in treatment).
• Safe and effective with few serious side effects.

BCG for Bladder Cancer

• BCG is not just a vaccine; it also treats early-stage bladder cancer.
• Doctors put it directly into the bladder (this is called the intravesical route).
• It helps the body’s immune system fight the cancer cells.
• BCG may stop or slow down tumor growth.

Possible Side Effects of BCG Vaccine

Common

• Redness and swelling at the injection site
• Mild fever
• Formation of a small blister
• Temporary enlargement of nearby lymph nodes

Rare but Serious:

• Suppurative lymphadenitis (pus-filled lymph nodes)
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
• Disseminated BCG disease (spread in body – rare, in immunocompromised)
• Injection site abscess or ulcer

How Effective is the BCG Vaccine?

• Effectiveness varies from 60% to 80% in preventing severe TB.
• Best at preventing childhood TB, not adult pulmonary TB.
• Offers partial protection against:
  • Leprosy
  • M. avium infections in children
  • Buruli ulcer (some studies show benefit, others don’t)
• Protection may last up to 15–20 years, but can reduce over time.

BCG and Tuberculin Skin Test (TST)

• BCG can cause false positive TST results.
• For people vaccinated in infancy, the effect wears off in 10+ years.
• IGRA (Interferon-Gamma Release Assay) is a better test in BCG-vaccinated individuals, as it is not affected by the vaccine.

Global BCG Vaccination Policy

The WHO offers general guidelines, but implementation differs globally. The table below summarizes BCG vaccination policies in different regions:

Region/Country	Policy on BCG
India, Africa, Asia	Routine at birth
UK (before 2005)	Routine school-age vaccination; now only for high-risk
USA, Canada	Not recommended routinely; only for high-risk
WHO Recommendation	Neonatal BCG in countries with high TB risk

BCG and Immune System

• BCG may cause “trained immunity” – stronger general immune response.
• Can lead to better protection against various infections in early life.
• Some studies show lower child mortality, not just from TB.

BCG and Interprofessional Healthcare Team

Nurses, doctors, and healthcare workers should:

• Educate parents and patients about BCG benefits and risks.
• Administer the vaccine safely.
• Monitor for side effects.
• Document the vaccination correctly.
• Refer patients for testing or further care if needed.

BCG Future Research and Challenges

• Studies are being done on:
  • New forms of BCG or booster vaccines
  • Inhaled BCG vaccines (respiratory route)
  • Genetically improved vaccines with longer protection
• Challenge: Creating a TB vaccine that works better in adults and offers full protection.

BCG Vaccine Important Facts

• India and Pakistan: India and Pakistan introduced the mass BCG vaccine in 1948, the first countries outside Europe to do so. In 2015, millions of infants in Pakistan were denied the BCG vaccine for the first time due to a global shortage
• China: Introduced in the 1930s. After 1949, it became increasingly widespread. By 197,9 most people were vaccinated.
• South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, and Malaysia. In these countries, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin was given at birth and again at age 12. In Malaysia and Singapore, since 2001, the policy was changed to only once at birth. South Korea discontinued revaccination in 2008.
• Hong Kong: BCG is given to all newborns.
• Japan: In Japan, BCG was introduced in 1951, usually given at age 6. Since 2005, it has been given between five and eight months after birth and before the child’s first birthday. BCG was not given before the fourth birthday until 2005, and after six months from birth from 2005 to 2012; The schedule was changed in 2012 due to reports of side effects of osteitis from vaccination at 3–4 months of age. Some municipalities recommend an earlier vaccination schedule.

FAQs on BCG Full Form

What is BCG full form?

BCG stands for Bacillus Calmette–Guérin, a vaccine developed for tuberculosis (TB) prevention.

What is BCG used for?

BCG is mainly used to protect against tuberculosis, especially in children, and also as a treatment for bladder cancer.

What is BCG good for?

BCG is effective in building immunity against TB and is also beneficial in stimulating the immune system to fight bladder cancer.

Is BCG Given to Adults?

Yes, adults can receive the BCG vaccine in some cases.

At how many weeks is the BCG vaccine given?

Although often officially reported as the birth dose, the BCG vaccine is usually delayed until after the DTP1 vaccine (around six weeks of age).

Is BCG painful for babies?

A small bump will appear within two to six weeks of the injection. This can be quite painful for a few days, but it will gradually heal if you don't cover it.