Spondylodiscitis of the lumbar spine in a non-immunocompromised host caused by Yersinia enterocolitica O:9

Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2010 Apr;130(4):469-71. doi: 10.1007/s00402-009-0921-x. Epub 2009 Jun 27.

Abstract

Here presented is an extremely rare case of a spinal osteomyelitis (L5-S1) with epidural empyema in a non-immunocompromised 62-year-old man caused by Yersinia enterocolitica O:9. The infection occurred acutely and required immediate surgical treatment. Y. enterocolitica was cultured from the empyema fluid, wound swabs of the intervertebral disc L5-S1 and stool cultures. Following the surgical decompression and antibiotic treatment, the patient recovered completely, without neurological deficits. A review of the literature revealed only sparse cases of spondylodiscitis due to other Y. enterocolitica serogroups. To our knowledge, we report here the first case of a spondylodiscitis of the lumbar spine caused by Y. enterocolitica serovar O:9 in a non-immunocompromised patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Decompression, Surgical
  • Discitis / diagnosis
  • Discitis / microbiology*
  • Discitis / therapy
  • Epidural Space
  • Humans
  • Immunocompetence
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / microbiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Yersinia Infections / complications
  • Yersinia Infections / diagnosis
  • Yersinia Infections / therapy
  • Yersinia enterocolitica*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents