title: Spondylodiscitis caused by Mycobacterium xenopi.
abstract: The infection with non-tuberculous mycobacterium correlates highly with immunodeficiency. Mycobacterium xenopi (M. xenopi) is most commonly isolated in the respiratory tract, as a cause of endogenous spondylodiscitis it occurs but rarely. Only seven such cases have been reported in literature. In this paper, we present the case of an about 28-year-old HIV-positive patient with a long history of back pain. MRI of the spinal column and Positron Emission Tomography with (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose as a tracer (F18-FDG-PET) confirmed the suspected spondylodiscitis. After performing a CT-controlled abscess drainage the patient's condition improved. Because of the severe destruction of the spinal segment concerned and because of the epidural abscess formation a vertebrectomy of T10 and surgical debridement of the paravertebral soft tissue via thoracotomy became urgently necessary. The spine was stabilized by interposing a cage and an anterolateral monobar system. M. xenopi could be proven by PCR out of the intraoperative specimen. After operation and antituberculotic therapy there was a fast convalescence. Diagnostics, therapy, and clinical outcome are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. sobottke@gmx.de
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sobottke
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zarghooni
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seifert
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faetkenheuer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koriller
authors.forename: J-W P
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: K-S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Delank
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Eysel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015299:Discitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D019912:Mycobacterium xenopi