Parvimonas micra Spondylodiscitis: A Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Neurosurgery
• Microbiology

Background:

• Spinal infections caused by Parvimonas micra are infrequently documented, necessitating further research into effective treatment strategies and risk factors.
• This study addresses the diagnostic and therapeutic gap by presenting a clinical case and conducting a systematic literature review.

Observation:

• A 78-year-old male presented with severe back and leg pain, revealing L2-L3 vertebral destruction and extensive intervertebral fluid collection on advanced imaging.
• The patient underwent surgical decompression and posterior spondylodesis, with intraoperative cultures identifying Parvimonas micra.
• Postoperative antibiotic therapy included intravenous penicillin followed by oral clindamycin.

Findings:

• A systematic review identified 15 additional cases of Parvimonas micra spinal infections, demonstrating varied antibiotic regimens.
• Despite treatment diversity, patients generally experienced favorable outcomes with good pain control and no infection relapse.
• The study supports the efficacy of current spinal infection guidelines for managing Parvimonas micra cases.

Implications:

• This research provides crucial evidence-based insights for the diagnosis and treatment of rare Parvimonas micra spinal infections.
• The findings suggest that timely and appropriate antibiotic therapy, guided by established protocols, leads to successful patient recovery.
• Further investigation into risk factors and optimized treatment protocols for Parvimonas micra spinal infections is warranted.