Osteomyelitis due to Veillonella parvula: case report and review

Anaerobic gram-negative cocci of the genus Veillonella are generally normal flora of the oropharynx and upper respiratory tract. When isolated in clinical specimens, these bacteria are usually regarded as commensal organisms rather than as pathogens. We report a case of spinal osteomyelitis in which Veillonella parvula was isolated in pure culture from bone as well as blood. Osteomyelitis of the spine due to anaerobic bacteria may occur more frequently than has been recognized, and anaerobic cultures of biopsy specimens should be routinely performed.