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A case of pyogenic spondylitis caused by Paludibacteriumpurpuratum

Jun Murakami1, Hitoshi Itohara2, Tamaki Orita1

  • 1Clinical Laboratory, Takarazuka City Hospital, Hyogo, Japan.

Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy : Official Journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy
|December 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

This study reports the first known case of pyogenic spondylitis caused by Paludibacterium purpuratum. This Gram-negative bacterium, typically found in soil, led to a spinal infection in an elderly patient.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Paludibacterium purpuratum is a Gram-negative, curved, rod-shaped bacterium first identified in wetland soil in 2016.
  • The clinical significance and pathogenic potential of P. purpuratum in humans remain largely unexplored.

Observation:

  • A 78-year-old male presented with fever and knee pain, later developing low back pain.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging revealed lumbar spine involvement, and a percutaneous needle biopsy confirmed pyogenic spondylitis at the L2/L3 disc level.

Findings:

  • Blood cultures identified a curved, Gram-negative rod consistent with P. purpuratum.
  • 16S rDNA gene sequencing confirmed the isolate as P. purpuratum, establishing it as the causative agent of the patient's pyogenic spondylitis.

Implications:

  • This case represents the first documented instance of pyogenic spondylitis attributed to Paludibacterium purpuratum worldwide.
  • Highlights the emerging role of environmental bacteria in human infections and the need for broader diagnostic considerations.
  • Suggests P. purpuratum as a potential pathogen in immunocompromised or elderly individuals, necessitating further research into its virulence factors and clinical spectrum.
Keywords:
16S rDNAPaludibacterium purpuratumPyogenic spondylitis

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