Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus. A case report.
METHODS
Clinical observation of a patient.


OBJECTIVE
To present the clinical features of an unusual infection of the spine caused by Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus and to suggest treatment.


BACKGROUND
This is only the second reported case of pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus.


METHODS
A 66-year-old man had pain of the left lower extremity. Radiologic examination revealed an epidural mass associated with destruction of the L5-S1 vertebral bodies.


RESULTS
Biopsy of the epidural mass was performed, and culture yielded Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus. After intravenous antibiotics, oral doxycycline and erythromycin were given for 5 months. At 9 months after antibiotic treatment was completed, the patient's condition was stable.


CONCLUSIONS
Prolonged oral administration of doxycycline and erythromycin was curative in this patient.
Yamashita
K
K
Department of Orthopaedics, Osaka National Hospital, Japan. yamakazu@onh.go.jp
Aoki
Y
Y
Hiroshima
K
K
D000368:Aged; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002168:Campylobacter fetus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*