Vertebral osteomyelitis caused by fusobacterium nucleatum: a case report

A 58-year-old man with a history of chronic alcohol abuse presented with vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Fusobacterium nucleatum. This case demonstrated the foul smelling abscess characteristic of anaerobic infection. Deep anaerobic infections are well known to be resistant to closed treatment, and the computerized tomographic scan confirmed the diagnosis of a paravertebral abscess in this case. An increased awareness among clinicians that anaerobic bacilli can cause oteomyelitis, together with more sophisticated culture techniques, will greatly aid the management of this virulent form of osteomyelitis.