title: [Haematogenous vertebral osteomyelitis. Experience of a primary care hospital].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a series of patients with haematogenous vertebral osteomyelitis (HVO) in a primary care hospital. The results were compared with other Spanish and foreign series.
  
  
  METHODS
  The files of patients with HVO diagnosed in the Viladecans hospital from 1993 through 2008, were retrospectively reviewed. Only patients with microbiological demonstration of infection were included. Patients with HVO after surgical procedures were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty six patients had inclusion criteria, 9 females and 17 males, with a mean age of 61 years (range 36-83). The most patients had any predisposing factor, generally diabetes mellitus. Pyogenic microorganisms were the most frequent aetiological agents (77%). Back pain was by far the most common presenting symptom (88,4%), followed by peripheral septic arthritis in two patients (7,6%), and acute abdominal pain in one. Fever was found in 22 cases (84,6%). None of our patients died, but the sequelae were non rare.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We did not find difference between our series and others. It is noteworthy that the streptococcal species represents the most frequently isolated organism, followed by Staphylococcus aureus, more common in other series. Remarkably, none of our patients died. HVO is a infrequent disease. However, evidence suggest that the incidence is increasing. Early diagnosis can avoid potential serious sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital de Viladecans, Viladecans, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ruiz Martín
authors.forename: Sergi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ros Expósito
authors.forename: Abelardo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montero Sáez
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sanz Frutos