title: Vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Prevotella (Bacteroides) melaninogenicus.
abstract: A 35-year-old, previously healthy female presented with severe low back pain, fever, and a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate 1 week after a routine dental cleaning. Technetium-labeled leukocyte scanning and magnetic resonance imaging scan of the spine were negative for osteomyelitis. The patient underwent biopsy, cultures from which grew Prevotella (Bacteroides) melaninogenicus. Appropriate antibiotic therapy resulted in resolution of symptoms. P. melaninogenicus is a gram-negative anaerobic bacillus that is part of the indigenous oral flora. It may cause dental, sinus, skin, and soft tissue infections. Infection of bone is rare. Only three cases of vertebral osteomyelitis due to P. melaninogenicus have been reported in the literature. The early diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis requires a high index of clinical suspicion and cannot be excluded by negative imaging tests alone. The recovery of this unusual organism highlights the importance of requesting anaerobic cultures of biopsy specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. mukhopsu@upstate.edu
authors.forename: Surabhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mukhopadhyay
authors.forename: Fredrick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Frechette
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D016866:Bacteroidaceae Infections / Q000150:complications*; D003729:Dental Care / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D001443:Prevotella melaninogenica / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013131:Spine / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents