Current knowledge of vertebral osteomyelitis: a review.

Area of Science:

• Spinal infections
• Infectious diseases
• Geriatric medicine

Background:

• Increasing global life expectancy leads to a larger elderly population.
• Vertebral osteomyelitis presents diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
• This condition can lead to severe morbidity and mortality if untreated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of vertebral osteomyelitis.
• To summarize the latest evidence on diagnosis and treatment.
• To guide effective management strategies for this spinal infection.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search of Medline and Embase databases.
• Inclusion of keywords: "vertebral osteomyelitis," "spinal infection," "discitis," "spondylitis," "spondylodiscitis," and "spinal epidural abscess."
• Consideration of retrospective and prospective studies, case series, and reviews.

Main Results:

• Commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus or gram-negative bacilli; fungi and parasites are also implicated.
• Insidious onset and non-specific symptoms complicate early diagnosis.
• Delayed treatment can result in sepsis, neurological damage, or death.

Conclusions:

• Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for a good prognosis in vertebral osteomyelitis.
• Identifying the causative organism is critical for effective antimicrobial therapy.
• New approaches include local drug delivery systems alongside conservative and surgical options.