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Updated: Jul 16, 2025
Systematic Assessment of Mammalian Skull Specimens for Dental and Temporomandibular Joint Pathology
Published on: August 22, 2022
A Novel Case of Providencia rettgeri Osteomyelitis Presenting in the Frontal Bone
Sydney Grubb1, Keana-Kelley D Swanner2, Carlos Cebollero3
1Critical Care, Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, Tallahassee, USA.
Abstract:
Osteomyelitis of the skull is a particularly life-threatening condition. Infections are usually at the base of the skull and typically occur following dissemination from another site, such as the external auditory canal. Typical organisms include Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus species. This paper demonstrates an unusual case of osteomyelitis of the frontoparietal bone, as well as the first published case of Providencia rettgeri causing cranial osteomyelitis in humans.
Insights
Skull osteomyelitis is a severe infection, often at the skull base. This report details a rare frontoparietal bone osteomyelitis caused by Providencia rettgeri, a novel finding in human cranial infections.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Neurosurgery
Background:
- Osteomyelitis of the skull is a rare but life-threatening condition.
- Infections typically occur at the skull base, often spreading from adjacent sites like the external auditory canal.
- Common causative agents include Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus species.
Observation:
- This paper reports an unusual case of osteomyelitis affecting the frontoparietal bone.
- The infection was caused by the bacterium Providencia rettgeri.
- This represents the first documented instance of Providencia rettgeri causing cranial osteomyelitis in humans.
Findings:
- Providencia rettgeri can cause osteomyelitis of the frontoparietal bone.
- This case expands the spectrum of known pathogens responsible for cranial osteomyelitis.
- The clinical presentation and management of this unusual infection are discussed.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering a broader range of pathogens in cranial osteomyelitis.
- May inform diagnostic approaches and treatment strategies for rare infectious diseases of the skull.
- Contributes to the understanding of infectious disease dissemination and host-pathogen interactions in the cranial region.
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