Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026
06:23
Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Human Brucellar Spondylodiscitis
Published on: May 23, 2021
Vertebral osteomyelitis secondary to Pseudallescheria boydii
R R Lonser1, D S Brodke, A T Dailey
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA.
Journal of Spinal Disorders
|August 2, 2001
Summary
Pseudallescheria boydii vertebral osteomyelitis is rare and challenging to treat. Aggressive surgical debridement combined with antifungal therapy is crucial for managing this severe fungal infection.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Neurosurgery
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Pseudallescheria boydii vertebral osteomyelitis is an uncommon and often treatment-resistant fungal infection.
- Optimal management strategies for this condition remain undefined due to its rarity.
Observation:
- A 48-year-old male presented with thoracic vertebral osteomyelitis caused by P. boydii, experiencing severe back and lower extremity symptoms.
- Despite prior debridement and antifungal treatment, magnetic resonance imaging showed continued vertebral collapse.
Findings:
- The patient underwent successful anterior debridement, corpectomies, strut grafting, and posterior fusion with pedicle screws.
- Post-operatively, the patient's pain and neurological deficits resolved, and he completed a 12-month course of itraconazole without recurrence.
Implications:
- Early and aggressive surgical intervention is vital for patients with progressing P. boydii vertebral osteomyelitis.
- Close monitoring is essential due to the potential for devastating neurological complications and resistance to systemic antifungal agents.
Related Concept Videos
01:31Pulmonary Tuberculosis III
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection primarily affecting the lung parenchyma but which can also affect other body parts. TB can be classified based on disease development, presentation, and the affected anatomical site.
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
01:14Atypical Pneumonia
Atypical pneumonia, often caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, is a form of pulmonary infection that differs from the classical presentation of bacterial pneumonia in both its cause and clinical symptoms. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pleomorphic bacterium notable for its lack of a rigid cell wall. This structural characteristic imparts resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and significantly influences the bacterium’s behavior within the human host.Other pathogens responsible for the disease include...
01:22Bacterial Meningitis I: Introduction
Bacterial meningitis is a severe, life-threatening inflammation of the meninges, particularly the pia mater and arachnoid mater, affecting the subarachnoid space, ventricles, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). If untreated, it can lead to significant neurological complications or death.Causative AgentsCommon pathogens vary with age and immune status. In adults, major organisms include Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, and Haemophilus influenzae. Streptococcus agalactiae (group B...
01:26Brain Abscess l: Introduction
A brain abscess is a focal, intracerebral infection characterized by a localized collection of pus within the brain parenchyma, resulting from microbial invasion and the body’s inflammatory response. It progresses through stages: early and late cerebritis, followed by early and late capsule formation, reflecting tissue destruction, immune response, and eventual encapsulation.Etiology and PathogenesisCausative organisms vary with source and host factors, often involving polymicrobial infections,...