Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 27, 2026
09:27
Generation of Fluorescent Protein Fusions in Candida Species
Published on: March 4, 2017
11.2K
Vertebral osteomyelitis due to Candida species
Nathan McLeod1, Melanie Fisher2, P Rocco Lasala3
1Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. ndm0011@hsc.wvu.edu.
Infection
|March 15, 2019
Summary
Candida vertebral osteomyelitis cases are increasing, often linked to injection drug use and spine surgery. Current treatments show favorable short-term outcomes, but long-term data is limited.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Mycology
Background:
- Vertebral osteomyelitis is a serious spinal infection.
- Candida species are increasingly recognized as a cause of osteomyelitis.
- Identifying trends and risk factors for fungal vertebral infections is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review cases of vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Candida species.
- To identify associated risk factors, treatment strategies, and patient outcomes.
- To understand the potential increase in Candida vertebral infections.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with Candida vertebral osteomyelitis.
- Data collected from electronic medical records and microbiology laboratory databases.
- Study conducted at a single teaching hospital from 2006 to 2018.
Main Results:
- Fifteen cases of Candida vertebral osteomyelitis were identified.
- Candida albicans was the most common species, predominantly affecting the lumbar and thoracic spine.
- Injection drug use and prior spine surgery were the primary risk factors.
Conclusions:
- A potential rise in vertebral infections due to Candida species is observed.
- Increased rates of intravenous drug use and spinal surgeries may contribute to this trend.
- Current management protocols appear effective in the short term, warranting further investigation for optimal long-term treatment.
Related Concept Videos
01:17What is a Species?
49.7K
Overview
49.7K
01:39Keystone Species
24.6K
Measures of species biodiversity, such as richness (i.e., the number of species present) and evenness (i.e., their relative abundance), describe an ecological community’s structure. Many factors affect community structure, including abiotic factors (e.g., sunlight and nutrients), disturbances (e.g., fire or flood), species interactions (e.g., predation or competition), and chance events (e.g., foreign species invasion). Certain species—such as keystone species—also play a...
24.6K
01:31Formation of Species
44.9K
Speciation describes the formation of one or more new species from one or sometimes multiple original species. The resulting species are discrete from the parent species, and barriers to reproduction will typically exist. There are two primary mechanisms, speciation with and without geographic isolation—allopatric and sympatric speciation, respectively.
44.9K
01:27Muscles of the Vertebral Column
3.2K
The back muscles that lie deep into the thoracolumbar fascia are called intrinsic or true back muscles. These muscles are divided into four layers: superficial, intermediate, deep, and deepest layers.
Superficial Layer:
The superficial layer consists primarily of the splenius muscles, which include the splenius capitis and splenius cervicis. These muscles are mainly responsible for the head and cervical spine movements, including extension, rotation, and lateral bending. The splenius capitis...
Superficial Layer:
The superficial layer consists primarily of the splenius muscles, which include the splenius capitis and splenius cervicis. These muscles are mainly responsible for the head and cervical spine movements, including extension, rotation, and lateral bending. The splenius capitis...
3.2K
01:28Articulations of the Vertebral Column
3.1K
In addition to being held together by the intervertebral discs, adjacent vertebrae also articulate with each other at synovial joints formed between the superior and inferior articular processes called zygapophysial joints (facet joints). These are plane joints that provide for only limited motions between the vertebrae. The orientation of the articular processes at these joints varies in different regions of the vertebral column and serves to determine the types of motions available in each...
3.1K
01:16Vertebral Column: Regions and Curvature
6.0K
The vertebral column or spine is a flexible column that supports the head, neck, and body and allows for their movements. It also protects the spinal cord.
Regions of the Vertebral Column
In an adult, the spine is subdivided into five regions: the cervical, the thoracic, the lumbar, the sacral, and the coccygeal region. The spine initially develops as a series of 33 vertebrae; after 20 years of age, the nine bones in the sacral region, five sacral, and four coccygeal bones fuse to form...
Regions of the Vertebral Column
In an adult, the spine is subdivided into five regions: the cervical, the thoracic, the lumbar, the sacral, and the coccygeal region. The spine initially develops as a series of 33 vertebrae; after 20 years of age, the nine bones in the sacral region, five sacral, and four coccygeal bones fuse to form...
6.0K