Related Experiment Videos
Spondylodiscitis and infective endocarditis: case studies and review of the literature
S Morelli1, E Carmenini, A P Caporossi
1Istituto di Clinica Medica I, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. smorelli@uniroma1.it
Study Design:
This study evaluated the association between infective endocarditis and infective spondylodiscitis and its clinical features.
Objectives:
To report case studies of patients with spondylodiscitis complicating infective endocarditis.
Summary Of Background Data:
Early diagnosis of infective endocarditis as the source of the spondylodiscitis is often difficult because clinical and radiologic patterns are similar to those present in spondylodiscitis alone.
Methods:
The case records of the patients with infective endocarditis admitted to our Department from 1991-1998 were reviewed. The diagnosis of spondylodiscitis was made on the basis of clinical features and of typical radiologic signs.
Results:
Among 30 patients affected by infective endocarditis, three also were affected by spondylodiscitis. All patients fully recovered after appropriate antibiotic therapy.
Conclusions:
In all patients with spondylodiscitis, infective endocarditis should be excluded, particularly in patients with a history of heart valve disease.