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Vaginal microbiota as an unusual cause of spondylodiscitis

Agnieszka Kolakowska1, Fatma El Alaoui2, Heida Ben Alba3

  • 1Service de Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Groupe Hospitalier Paris Seine Saint-Denis, AP-HP, Bobigny, France. kolakowska.agn@gmail.com.

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
|April 18, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Vaginal bacteria can cause infections outside the pelvis, including rare bone infections like spondylodiscitis. This case highlights a polymicrobial vaginal flora infection in a healthy woman, successfully treated with antibiotics.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Orthopedics

Background:

  • Improved diagnostic methods have increased the detection of infections caused by vaginal microflora.
  • Bone infections from vaginal bacteria remain uncommon, with limited understanding of their characteristics and management.
  • Vaginal microbiota includes anaerobic bacteria such as Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Peptostreptococcus indolicus, and Prevotella amnii.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a rare case of spondylodiscitis caused by polymicrobial vaginal flora.
  • To describe the clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome of such an infection.
  • To contribute to the limited knowledge regarding risk factors and management of bone infections originating from vaginal bacteria.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a patient with spondylodiscitis.
  • Identification of causative anaerobic bacteria from vaginal microbiota.
  • Treatment with antibiotic therapy.

Main Results:

  • The patient presented with spondylodiscitis caused by a polymicrobial infection involving Gardnerella vaginalis, Atopobium vaginae, Peptostreptococcus indolicus, and Prevotella amnii.
  • The patient had no apparent predisposing factors for infection.
  • Successful recovery was achieved following antibiotic treatment.

Conclusions:

  • This case represents the first reported instance of spondylodiscitis caused by polymicrobial vaginal flora in a healthy, immunocompetent woman.
  • Vaginal bacteria, even in healthy individuals, can potentially lead to severe infections like spondylodiscitis.
  • Further research is warranted to understand the full spectrum and management of these infections.
Keywords:
Atopobium vaginaeGardnerella vaginalisPeptostreptococcus indolicusPrevotella amniiSpondylodiscitisVaginal microbiota

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