Discitis caused by the Centers for Disease Control microorganism Group Ve-1

An unusual case of discitis in a 60-year-old, insulin-dependent, diabetic man is presented. Radiographs of the lumbar spine demonstrated changes associated with infection of the intervertebral disc space. Cultures from the L5-S1 disc space grew the microorganism designated by the Centers for Disease Control as Group Ve-1, an organism that has had questionable clinical significance in the past, and has not been reported as a pathogen in an intervertebral disc space.