A case of Nocardia epidural abscess.
Spinal epidural abscess due to nocardia is extremely rare. We report a patient who presented to our Emergency Department with a complaint of low back pain and fever, who was later found to have a spinal epidural abscess. Tissue cultures from the abscess grew nocardia asteroides. Magnetic resonance imaging scan is the imaging study of choice for diagnosing spinal epidural abscess. Treatment for nocardia spinal epidural abscess involves a combination of surgical debridement and prolonged sulfonamide administration.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Richland Memorial Hospital, Columbia, South Carolina 29203, USA.
A L
AL
Harvey
J
J
Myslinski
L
L
Ortiz
D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D004824:Epidural Space; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009617:Nocardia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D009616:Nocardia asteroides; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy