Vertebral osteomyelitis due to Staphylococcus epidermidis.
Vertebral osteomyelitis due to Staphylococcus epidermidis is extremely rare and usually occurs in the context of immunosuppression in association with an adequate portal of entry for infection. This paper reports a case of vertebral osteomyelitis due to S. epidermidis in a man with no evidence of immunosuppression or obvious portal of entry. The patient presented with severe back pain but there were no clinical signs of infection. Radiographs and computerized tomographs showed destruction of thoracic vertebral bodies and an adjacent soft tissue mass. S. epidermidis was grown from multiple blood cultures. All isolates had identical antibiograms and biochemical profiles. There was evidence of healing of the vertebral bodies and resolution of the soft tissue mass after appropriate antistaphylococcal treatment.
De Wit
D
D
Department of Bacteriology and Rheumatology, Hammersmith Hospital, London.
Mulla
R
R
Cowie
M R
MR
Mason
J C
JC
Davies
K A
KA
D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents