BCG is a vaccine used to prevent tuberculosis. It also is used experimentally in the treatment of certain cancers. BCG is prescribed extensively in many parts of the world where tuberculosis is a serious health problem. Physicians in the United States do not use it routinely for tuberculosis prevention.
BCG is made from specially bred and weakened strains of tuberculosis bacteria. In theory, injections of BCG cause the body to build up disease-fighting antibodies that protect against tuberculosis. BCG does not work for everyone. Furthermore, some studies suggest that BCG is ineffective among certain populations.
The vaccine was developed in 1921 by the French researchers Albert Calmette and Camille Guerin. The name BCG stands for Bacillus Calmette-Guerin.
