Mycobacterium xenopi infection of the spine: a case report and literature review.
METHODS
A case report of Mycobacterium xenopi.


OBJECTIVE
To present a case report of a vertebral osteomyelitis caused by M. xenopi and to review the world literature on the subject.


BACKGROUND
M. xenopi is most commonly a pulmonary pathogen in immunosuppressed patients or those with underlying lung disease. Infection of the spine is very rare, with only four cases reported. Three of these cases occurred in immunosuppressed patients, and the fourth in a patient with previous tuberculosis osteomyelitis of the spine.


METHODS
The information was obtained from a review of the patient's clinical notes and follow-up appointments.


RESULTS
The patient was a 73-year-old woman with an M. xenopi osteomyelitis of T6-T7, confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and a computed tomography-guided biopsy. She was treated with surgical decompression and stabilization before a 2-year antibiotic regimen was begun. At follow-up assessment 1 year after the antibiotics were finished, she still had some ongoing back pain, but no evidence of relapse.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first reported case of an M. xenopi infection of the spine in a patient with no predisposing factors. This type of infection can be difficult to treat, with a high relapse rate reported despite prolonged courses of antibiotics.
Danesh-Clough
T
T
Departments of Orthopaedics and Microbiology, Dunedin Hospital, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Theis
J C
JC
van der Linden
A
A
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019912:Mycobacterium xenopi; D011859:Radiography; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery