Bifidobacterium longum vertebrodiscitis in a patient with cirrhosis and prostate cancer
Heather L Wilson1, Chong Wei Ong1
1Canberra Hospital and Health Services, PO Box 11, Woden, ACT 2606, Australia.
Abstract:
Bifidobacterium species are anaerobic, Gram-positive bacilli that colonize the human intestinal tract and oral cavity. They are an infrequent cause of invasive human infection. We report a case of Bifidobacterium longum lumbar vertebrodiscitis in a 71 year old man who was subsequently diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and prostate cancer. The clinical outcome was good following antibiotic treatment with penicillin and clindamycin. The laboratory identification of Bifidobacterium species and risk factors for invasive infection are discussed.
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