title: Fungal vertebral osteomyelitis due to Scedosporium apiospermum after near-drowning.
abstract: Near-drowning predisposes one to infection by the fungus Scedosporium apiospermum, and brain abscess is the most common consequence. Vertebral osteomyelitis due to this organism is exceedingly rare. The authors report on a 43-year-old man who developed fungal spondylodiscitis several weeks after a near-drowning event. The rare nature of this infection led to a delay in diagnosis. A combination of surgical debridement, instrumentation, and antifungal therapy resulted in an excellent outcome at 1 year of follow-up.
authors.affiliation: The Neurosciences Institute, Division of Neurosurgery, Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Fassil B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Mesfin
authors.forename: Ellis
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tobin
authors.forename: Mathew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Adamo
authors.forename: Darryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dirisio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015299:Discitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008271:Mycetoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D015701:Near Drowning / Q000150:complications*; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D021681:Scedosporium