Study of Urine Treatment After BCG Intravesical Instillation Therapy — A Secondary Publication

Abstract

Background and methods: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) intravesical instillation therapy is used to treat non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Instilled BCG is typically collected at the time of initial urination and disposed of after sterilization with 10% sodium hypochlorite or household bleach, however, these methods can have unpleasant effects, such as pungent odor, rapid foaming, and fever. We investigated whether isopropanol can be used to sterilize and dispose of urine after BCG intravesical instillation therapy since isopropanol at a concentration of 33% or higher (70% isopropanol was used in this study) has the same disinfectant and bactericidal effects against Mycobacterium tuberculosis as 10% sodium hypochlorite or household bleach. Results: The use of isopropanol eliminated the unpleasant effects experienced with sodium hypochlorite and no growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was observed in culture tests. Conclusion: Isopropanol is safer than sodium hypochlorite, and should be considered for sterilizing and disposing of urine after BCG intravesical instillation therapy in the future. However, fire and ventilation precautions are required.