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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Spinal Subdural Staphylococcus Aureus Abscess: case report and review of the literature

Dimitris Velissaris1, Diamanto Aretha, Fotini Fligou

  • 1Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Patras University Hospital, Patras, 26500, Greece. adaretha@yahoo.gr.

World Journal of Emergency Surgery : WJES
|August 8, 2009
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Spinal subdural abscesses are rare, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most common cause. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for improving patient outcomes in this serious condition.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neurosurgery

Background:

  • Spinal subdural abscesses are rare, with only 65 cases reported, predominantly in the lumbar spine.
  • Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequently identified pathogen.
  • Non-specific symptoms and the need for advanced imaging highlight diagnostic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a case of spinal subdural abscess.
  • To emphasize the critical importance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Case presentation of a 75-year-old diabetic patient with acute low back pain, neurological deficits, and fever.
  • Diagnosis initially suspected as meningitis based on clinical presentation and lumbar puncture.
  • Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed subdural abscess, followed by laminectomy.

Main Results:

  • The patient presented with symptoms suggestive of meningitis, later diagnosed as a lumbar subdural abscess via MRI.
  • Despite surgical intervention (laminectomy), the patient experienced rapid deterioration, including respiratory failure and quadriplegia, and ultimately died.
  • The case highlights the aggressive nature and poor prognosis associated with delayed diagnosis.

Conclusions:

  • Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of surgical and antibiotic treatment are paramount for favorable outcomes in spinal subdural abscess.
  • High morbidity and mortality rates underscore the urgency of timely intervention.
  • Contrast-enhanced MRI is the imaging modality of choice for diagnosing spinal subdural abscess.

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