[Spondylodiscitis caused by Fusobacterium nucleatum. Apropos of a case]

Presse Med. 1995 Jun 10;24(21):989-91.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Spondylodiscitis is rarely caused by anaerobic germs and occurs mainly in patients weakened by another infection. We report a case of Fusobacterium nucleatum spondylodiscitis in a 63-year-old man. This is the third such report and the second in a non-immunodepressed patient. The clinical presentation and laboratory findings in this type of spondylodiscitis vary little from those produced by other germs. Magnetic resonance imaging is the most useful diagnostic tool for spondylodiscitis. The germ is isolated from a discal puncture aspirate in 66% of the cases but can also be obtained from blood cultures. Anaerobic germs are usually sensitive to penicillin or cephalosporins.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Discitis / diagnosis
  • Discitis / drug therapy
  • Discitis / microbiology*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination / therapeutic use
  • Fusobacterium Infections / diagnosis
  • Fusobacterium Infections / drug therapy
  • Fusobacterium Infections / microbiology*
  • Fusobacterium nucleatum / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Male
  • Metronidazole / therapeutic use
  • Middle Aged
  • Penicillin G / therapeutic use
  • Thoracic Vertebrae

Substances

  • Metronidazole
  • Penicillin G