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Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment of Human Brucellar Spondylodiscitis
Published on: May 23, 2021
Possible association of Kingella kingae with infantile spondylodiscitis
Dimitri Ceroni1, Wilson Belaieff, Akatarina Kanavaki
1From the *Pediatric Orthopedic Service; and †Pediatric Radiology Service, University Hospitals of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Abstract:
The course of the spondylodiscitis' infantile form is characterized by a mild-to-moderate clinical and biologic inflammatory response. Unfortunately, blood and disk/vertebral aspiration cultures show a high percentage of negative results. However, detecting Kingella kingae DNA in the oropharynx provided reasonable suspicion, to our opinion, that this microorganism is responsible for the spondylodiscitis.
Insights
Kingella kingae DNA detection in the oropharynx suggests this bacterium causes infantile spondylodiscitis. This finding is crucial as traditional cultures often yield negative results in diagnosing this condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Microbiology
- Orthopedic infections
Background:
- Infantile spondylodiscitis typically presents with mild-to-moderate inflammation.
- Blood and bone aspiration cultures frequently fail to identify the causative pathogen in pediatric spondylodiscitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Kingella kingae in infantile spondylodiscitis.
- To evaluate oropharyngeal DNA detection as a diagnostic marker.
Main Methods:
- Detecting Kingella kingae DNA in oropharyngeal samples.
- Correlating DNA detection with clinical presentation of spondylodiscitis.
Main Results:
- Oropharyngeal Kingella kingae DNA was detected in cases of infantile spondylodiscitis.
- This detection offers a potential diagnostic clue when cultures are negative.
Conclusions:
- Kingella kingae is a suspected causative agent of infantile spondylodiscitis.
- Oropharyngeal DNA testing may aid in diagnosing this challenging pediatric infection.
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