title: [Reports on nine cases of spondylodiscitis].
abstract: Spondylodiscitis is an infection of the intervertebral disk and the adjacent vertebrae, with or without associated epidural or psoas abscesses. It is a serious disease both due to its long-term course and the possible outcomes. It is frequently caused by S. aureus and, in endemic areas, by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Brucella spp. We describe 9 cases, from October 2004 to August 2005, all spontaneous diseases occurring in adults (mean age 64 years). The site of infection was lumbar in 7, lumbar-sacral in 1 and dorsal in 1. None were associated to sepsis. The causative bacteria were known in 6 cases (1 BK, 1 S. aureus, 4 Brucella) and unknown in 3 cases. In all cases therapy was only medical. Significant circulation in Sicily of both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Brucella spp. make those microorganisms the most frequent agents of spondylodiscitis.
authors.affiliation: U O Malattie Infettive ARNAS Civico.
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abbagnato
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scarlata
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miceli
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Scaglione
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Odierno Contino
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Politi
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pepe
authors.forename: Biagio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Agostara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002002:Brucella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000150:complications; D015299:Discitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000150:complications; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D013997:Time Factors; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents