Spinal abscess of Haemophilus paraphrophilus. A case report.
METHODS
A case of paraspinal abscess formation from Haemophilus paraphrophilus is presented.


OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of paraspinal abscess formation from H. paraphrophilus, a fastidious commensal organism of the mouth and pharynx. A precise bacteriologic identification can be difficult; techniques for such identification are discussed.


BACKGROUND
Spinal abscess caused by H. paraphrophilus is unusual and can be very difficult to diagnose.


METHODS
The etiology, clinical presentation, technical examinations, and treatment are reviewed.


RESULTS
Prolonged antibiotic treatment was curative, although surgery was considered.


CONCLUSIONS
Bacteriologic diagnoses in these rare infections are difficult. Antibiotic therapy was curative in the patient described.
Samuel
W
W
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS TRUST, United Kingdom.
Dryden
M
M
Sampson
M
M
Page
A
A
Shepherd
H
H
D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002439:Cefotaxime / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006190:Haemophilus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D002439:Cefotaxime