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Pyogenic spondylitis with acute course caused by Corynebacterium simulans
M Ogasawara1, T Matsuhisa1, T Kondo2
1Department of General Medicine, Nagoya University Hospital, Tsurumai-cho 65, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 466-8560, Japan.
Summary
This study reports the first case of acute pyogenic spondylitis caused by Corynebacterium simulans, a bacterium typically found on skin. The patient recovered after antibiotic treatment, highlighting a rare but serious infection presentation.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Spinal Infections
Background:
- Corynebacterium simulans is a commensal bacterium of human skin flora, identified in 2000.
- Infections by Corynebacterium species are uncommon, with pyogenic spondylitis being a rare manifestation.
- Pyogenic spondylitis caused by C. simulans has not been previously documented in medical literature.
Observation:
- A 78-year-old male patient with diabetes mellitus presented with acute lower back pain and fever.
- Blood cultures identified Corynebacterium simulans as the causative agent.
- Magnetic resonance imaging confirmed acute pyogenic spondylitis of the lumbar vertebrae.
Findings:
- This case represents the first documented instance of acute pyogenic spondylitis caused by Corynebacterium simulans.
- Unlike the typically chronic course of Corynebacterium-induced spondylitis, this infection presented acutely.
- The patient achieved a full recovery after a 9-week course of vancomycin treatment.
Implications:
- This case expands the spectrum of clinical manifestations associated with Corynebacterium simulans.
- It underscores the importance of considering less common pathogens in pyogenic spondylitis, even those part of normal flora.
- Highlights the potential for acute presentations of spondylitis by skin commensals, necessitating prompt diagnosis and treatment.
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