-
Views
-
Cite
Cite
T.W. Corrah, D.A. Enoch, S.H. Aliyu, A.M. Lever, Bacteraemia and subsequent vertebral osteomyelitis: a retrospective review of 125 patients, QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, Volume 104, Issue 3, March 2011, Pages 201–207, https://doi.org/10.1093/qjmed/hcq178
Close - Share Icon Share
Abstract
Background: Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) is associated with considerable morbidity and its incidence seems to be increasing. Haematogenous spread is an important aetiological factor.
Aim: The objective was to describe a series of patients with VO and to search for a relationship between preceding bacteraemia and subsequent VO with the same pathogen.
Design and methods: A retrospective study of all treated cases of VO in a tertiary hospital over a 10-year period.
Results: There were 129 cases of VO (involving 125 patients) that received antimicrobial treatment. Eighty-three (66%) were male and the mean age was 59.5 years (range 1 month to 87 years). The vertebral level involved was lumbar in 66 (53%) cases and thoracic in 35 (28%) cases. Seventy-four cases (59%) had a microbiologically confirmed aetiology. The diagnostic yield from procedures was 46 and 36% from blood culture and bone biopsy, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen [38 of 74 (51%) cases]. Nine of 38 (24%) cases of Staphylococcus aureus VO had a preceding bacteraemia with the same pathogen in the previous year.
Conclusions:Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen causing bacteraemia with the ability to cause metastatic complications including VO. The high proportion of cases developing VO following a documented bacteraemia, sometimes many months previously, reinforce the importance of adequate aggressive treatment for bacteraemia. VO must be considered in all patients presenting with back pain up to a year after bacteraemia. Previous bacteraemias with relevant pathogens can help guide antibiotic treatment at presentation of VO and if biopsy cannot be obtained.
