Spondylodiscitis and infective endocarditis: case studies and review of the literature.
METHODS
This study evaluated the association between infective endocarditis and infective spondylodiscitis and its clinical features.


OBJECTIVE
To report case studies of patients with spondylodiscitis complicating infective endocarditis.


BACKGROUND
Early diagnosis of infective endocarditis as the source of the spondylodiscitis is often difficult because clinical and radiologic patterns are similar to those present in spondylodiscitis alone.


METHODS
The case records of the patients with infective endocarditis admitted to our Department from 1991-1998 were reviewed. The diagnosis of spondylodiscitis was made on the basis of clinical features and of typical radiologic signs.


RESULTS
Among 30 patients affected by infective endocarditis, three also were affected by spondylodiscitis. All patients fully recovered after appropriate antibiotic therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
In all patients with spondylodiscitis, infective endocarditis should be excluded, particularly in patients with a history of heart valve disease.
Morelli
S
S
Istituto di Clinica Medica I, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. smorelli@uniroma1.it
Carmenini
E
E
Caporossi
A P
AP
Aguglia
G
G
Bernardo
M L
ML
Gurgo
A M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D015299:Discitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000601:surgery; D011859:Radiography; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents