[Reports on nine cases of spondylodiscitis]

Infez Med. 2008 Jun;16(2):103-7.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

Spondylodiscitis is an infection of the intervertebral disk and the adjacent vertebrae, with or without associated epidural or psoas abscesses. It is a serious disease both due to its long-term course and the possible outcomes. It is frequently caused by S. aureus and, in endemic areas, by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Brucella spp. We describe 9 cases, from October 2004 to August 2005, all spontaneous diseases occurring in adults (mean age 64 years). The site of infection was lumbar in 7, lumbar-sacral in 1 and dorsal in 1. None were associated to sepsis. The causative bacteria were known in 6 cases (1 BK, 1 S. aureus, 4 Brucella) and unknown in 3 cases. In all cases therapy was only medical. Significant circulation in Sicily of both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Brucella spp. make those microorganisms the most frequent agents of spondylodiscitis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Brucella / isolation & purification
  • Brucellosis / complications
  • Discitis* / diagnosis
  • Discitis* / drug therapy
  • Discitis* / etiology
  • Discitis* / microbiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lumbar Vertebrae
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Staphylococcal Infections / complications
  • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Thoracic Vertebrae
  • Time Factors
  • Tuberculosis, Spinal / complications

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents