Lumbar Discitis and Osteomyelitis After a Spinal Stem Cell Injection?: A Case Report and Literature Review

A 32-year-old man developed lumbar discitis and osteomyelitis after receiving a cell-based injection for the treatment of degenerative disc disease. Initial cultures were negative, but he continued to worsen, and a repeat set of cultures was taken. On day 10, Cutibacterium acnes was isolated. He was then successfully treated with 12 weeks of intravenous antibiotics.

There is minimal regulation on the preparation or administration of cell-based interventions. It is important to consider slow growing organisms such as C. acnes in patients presenting with spinal infection with insidious onset after these treatments.