title: Spinal epidural abscess due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a patient with AIDS: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Spinal epidural abscess (SEA) is a rare infectious disorder that often has delayed diagnosis and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality rates. We present a case of an AIDS patient with a SEA due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This type of SEA in AIDS patients is characterized by localized spinal pain and prolonged fever. Magnetic resonance imaging is the method of choice in the diagnostic process. Early diagnosis, followed by specific therapy (surgical decompression combined with antituberculous drugs), is necessary to improve the prognosis of these kinds of patients.
authors.affiliation: Unit 17 and Division of HIV/AIDS, Infectious Diseases F.J. Muñiz Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina. hmetta@sinectis.com.ar
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Metta
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Corti
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Redini
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yampolsky
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schtirbu
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D020802:Epidural Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000382:microbiology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents