Rat-bite fever complicated by vertebral osteomyelitis: A case report

Ryota Sato; Akira Kuriyama; Michitaka Nasu

doi:10.1016/j.jiac.2016.01.023

Rat-bite fever complicated by vertebral osteomyelitis: A case report

J Infect Chemother. 2016 Aug;22(8):574-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jiac.2016.01.023. Epub 2016 Mar 2.

Authors

Ryota Sato¹, Akira Kuriyama², Michitaka Nasu³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Urasoe General Hospital, Okinawa, Japan. Electronic address: st051035@gmail.com.
² Department of General Medicine, Kurashiki Central Hospital, Okayama, Japan.
³ Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Urasoe General Hospital, Okinawa, Japan.

PMID: 26948832
DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2016.01.023

Abstract

Rat-bite fever (RBF) is a challenging diagnosis transmitted by the bite of the rats. We present the first reported case of RBF complicated by vertebral osteomyelitis. It is important to consider performing the MRI to differentiate vertebral osteomyelitis from simple back pain to determine the appropriate duration of antibiotic therapy.

Keywords: Rat-bite fever; Spirillum minus; Streptobacillus moniliformis; Vertebral osteomyelitis.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Animals
Bites and Stings / complications*
Bites and Stings / diagnostic imaging*
Bites and Stings / drug therapy
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
Male
Middle Aged
Osteomyelitis / etiology*
Rat-Bite Fever / complications*
Rat-Bite Fever / diagnosis*
Rats