[Pyogenic cervical osteomyelitis following pneumonia]

A 65-year-old man was admitted because of severe cervical pain radiating to both shoulders and bouts of fever, which followed pneumonia. Bone scan showed increased focal uptake in C6-7, while computerized tomography showed destruction of the 7th intervertebral disk, with bone sequesters and soft tissue swelling. Fine needle aspiration drew purulent material with gram-positive bacteria on direct staining. Culture grew Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase positive. Treatment with IV cloxacillin for 3 weeks, followed by oral treatment for another 3, resulted in complete remission.