A spinal infection with Staphylococcus pseudintermedius

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology
• Clinical Case Report

Background:

• Spinal infections can be severe and challenging to treat.
• Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is an emerging pathogen with zoonotic potential.
• The identification of microorganisms is crucial for effective treatment.

Observation:

• A 60-year-old woman presented with an invasive spinal infection linked to a long-standing spinal fixation device and contact with dogs.
• Blood and epidural abscess pus cultures confirmed Staphylococcus pseudintermedius.
• The patient developed a deep abscess, a previously unreported presentation for this organism.

Findings:

• The infection was successfully treated with a regimen of intravenous flucloxacillin followed by oral clindamycin, mirroring treatment protocols for Staphylococcus aureus infections.
• Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) technology facilitated the specific identification of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius.
• This case is the first reported instance of a deep abscess caused by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius.

Implications:

• Staphylococcus pseudintermedius poses a zoonotic risk and can cause invasive infections in humans.
• Standard treatment protocols for Staphylococcus aureus infections appear effective against Staphylococcus pseudintermedius.
• Advances in microbial identification techniques are revealing previously unrecognized pathogens and their clinical significance.