title: [Spondylodiscitis caused by a strain of Staphylococcus aureus, in vitro sensitive to penicillin].
abstract: The case history of a man referred to our department with the diagnosis of purulent meningitis; actually, he presented spondylodiscitis of the lumbar spine with the infection spreading into the spinal canal and the left psoas muscle. The disease was caused by a strain of Staphylococcus aureus, which in vitro was sensitive to penicillin. However, treatment with crystalline penicillin in combination with ciprofloxacin failed. The paper suggests a differential diagnosis permitting to distinguish a typical purulent meningitis and an abscess in the spinal canal. The authors also discuss the suitability of administering penicillin in staphylococcal sepsis caused by a sensitive strain. The authors do not recommend crystalline penicillin in the management of severe staphylococcal infections even in cases, where the isolated S. aureus strain is really sensitive to penicillin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, 3rd Medical Faculty, Charles University Prague, Budínova 2, 180-81 Prague 8, Czech Republic. benes@cesnet.cz
authors.forename: Jirí
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benes
authors.forename: Mária
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kabelková
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kotlíková
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Petrás
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Louda
mesh_terms: D015299:Discitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D010068:Oxacillin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010400:Penicillin G; D010068:Oxacillin