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Vertebral Osteomyelitis Secondary to Pneumococcal Infection
Bindu Gandrapu1, Preeyanka Sundar1, Paula Aucoin2
1Internal Medicine, Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, MA, USA.
Case Reports in Infectious Diseases
|November 8, 2018
Summary
Pneumococcal vertebral osteomyelitis, a rare infection by Streptococcus pneumoniae, typically presents with fever and back pain. This case highlights an unusual presentation in a 62-year-old female, successfully treated with ceftriaxone.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Spinal Infections
- Bacterial Pathogenesis
Background:
- Vertebral osteomyelitis is a serious infection of the spine.
- Pneumococcal infections are more commonly associated with respiratory tract infections.
- Streptococcus pneumoniae is an uncommon cause of vertebral osteomyelitis.
Observation:
- A 62-year-old female presented with symptoms suggestive of vertebral osteomyelitis.
- The patient's presentation was atypical for common vertebral osteomyelitis.
- Diagnostic imaging, including CT and MRI, confirmed infection at T8-9 vertebrae.
Findings:
- The vertebral osteomyelitis was confirmed to be secondary to Streptococcus pneumoniae infection.
- Cytology results supported the diagnosis of pneumococcal vertebral osteomyelitis.
- The patient's erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was elevated, a common indicator of inflammation.
Implications:
- This case expands the spectrum of clinical presentations for pneumococcal infections.
- Highlights the importance of considering Streptococcus pneumoniae in vertebral osteomyelitis, even with unusual presentations.
- Successful treatment with high-dose ceftriaxone suggests a viable therapeutic option for this rare condition.
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