Spinal epidural abscess due to Streptococcus pneumoniae in an HIV-infected adult.
Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is rare and has never been reported in an HIV-infected patient, despite the higher risk of invasive disease in this group. We describe here the first case of pneumococcal epidural abscess, presenting with fever and back pain in a 60-year-old man infected with HIV. Blood cultures were positive for S. pneumoniae and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the suspicion of diskitis and SEA at the L4-S1 level. The patient was successfully treated with iv ceftriaxone without surgical intervention. The clinical characteristics of this case are compared with existing literature on pneumococcal SEA.
Younus
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F
Dept. of Medicine, Franklin Square Hospital Center, Baltimore, MD 21237, USA. dryonus@hotmail.com
Jimenez
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V
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002511:Cephalosporins; D002443:Ceftriaxone