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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
06:23
Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Human Brucellar Spondylodiscitis
Published on: May 23, 2021
Aspergillus spondylodiscitis after multivisceral transplantation.
Undine A Gerlach1, Sven Kohler, Igor M Sauer
1Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Berlin, Germany.
Annals of Transplantation
|December 17, 2009
Summary
Fungal spondylodiscitis, particularly Aspergillus, is a rare but serious complication in immunocompromised patients. Early diagnosis and combined surgical and antifungal treatment are crucial for managing this challenging infection.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurosurgery
- Transplantation Medicine
Background:
- Spondylodiscitis is uncommon but increasingly seen in immunocompromised individuals.
- Typical causes include Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacteria; fungal infections are rare.
- Fungal spondylodiscitis poses diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
Observation:
- A case of Aspergillus spondylodiscitis following pulmonary aspergillosis in a multivisceral and kidney transplant recipient is presented.
- The patient required surgical restoration with an autologous iliac crest graft due to irreversible disc destruction.
- Intravenous antifungal therapy included voriconazole, caspofungin, and liposomal amphotericin B.
Findings:
- Aspergillus spondylodiscitis is a rare but aggressive spinal infection.
- Irreversible disc destruction necessitates surgical intervention.
- Multidrug antifungal therapy is essential for treatment.
Implications:
- Prompt diagnosis and aggressive management are vital for preventing severe neurological damage.
- A combined approach of surgical debridement and comprehensive antifungal therapy is crucial.
- This case highlights the importance of considering fungal infections in immunocompromised patients with spondylodiscitis.
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