Observational case series of Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome (IRIS) following initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy in infants with absent BCG scars in Lusaka, Zambia

Reported here is the case series of six infants presenting with immune reconstitution syndrome following the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ARV). The infants had no BCG scars at the time of starting ARVs and the mean duration of appearance of the cold abscess / lymphadenitis on the ipsilateral side of the BCG site was 2 – 8 weeks. Mycobacterial speciation studies of the fine needle aspirate material showed Mycobacterium Bovis, BCG strain. Two of the patients had to require antimycobacterial therapy.