title: Atypical presentations of epidural abscess in intravenous drug abusers.
abstract: Two cases of epidural abscess in afebrile intravenous drug abusers are presented. Both patients presented for evaluation of back pain that developed only after having moved heavy household items. One patient admitted to not having used intravenous drugs in at least 2 years. These cases are presented to illustrate the atypical fashion in which epidural abscess may present.
authors.affiliation: Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore 21201, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Prendergast
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jerrard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Connell
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D001416:Back Pain / Q000382:microbiology*; D004824:Epidural Space; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000382:microbiology; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*