Bacteroides fragilis vertebral osteomyelitis secondary to anal dilatation.
METHODS
A case report of anaerobic vertebral osteomyelitis after anal dilatation.


OBJECTIVE
To present a patient with monomicrobial anaerobic vertebral osteomyelitis secondary to a previously undescribed source of infection.


BACKGROUND
A 17-year-old boy presented with low back pain 3 months after anal dilatation.


METHODS
Physical examination, technetium-99m bone scan, plain radiograph, CT, and MRI studies of the lumbar spine were used to clinically diagnose lumbar osteomyelitis. Culture material from the involved disc was positive for Bacteroides fragilis.


RESULTS
The patient recovered after 8 weeks of treatment with oral metronidazole.


CONCLUSIONS
Bacteroides fragilis hematogenous osteomyelitis is a rare entity. This is the first reported case of such disease after anal dilatation.
Chazan
B
B
Infectious Diseases Unit Ha'Emek Medical Center, Afula, Israel. raz_r@clalit.org.il
Strahilevitz
J
J
Millgram
M A
MA
Kaufmann
S
S
Raz
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D001442:Bacteroides Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004106:Dilatation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005401:Fissure in Ano / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D008795:Metronidazole