title: Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis: diagnosis and management.
abstract: Vertebral osteomyelitis represents a diagnostic challenge to the clinician. Two cases of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis occurring weeks to months after a urinary tract infection with Escherichia coli are described. The rarity and subtle clinical presentation of this condition, the presence of pre-existing degenerative arthritic changes, and delayed appearance of radiologic signs of progression to destructive osteomyelitis contributed to a significant delay in diagnosis. Increased awareness of vertebral osteomyelitis as a clinical entity combined with information from radionuclide scanning may permit earlier detection of this condition.
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011122:Polyphosphates; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013492:Suppuration; D013667:Technetium; D017556:Technetium Compounds; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011122:Polyphosphates; D017556:Technetium Compounds; C009835:technetium Tc 99m polyphosphate; D013667:Technetium