Management of adult spontaneous spondylodiscitis and its rising incidence (original) (raw)
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A Seven-Year Prospective Study on Spondylodiscitis: Epidemiological and Microbiological Features
Infection, 2010
Background: The aim of this paper was to enlarge the available knowledge on clinical and etiological aspects of patients affected by spondylodiscitis. Patients and Methods: All patients with spondylodiscitis admitted between January 2001 and December 2007 at the 1,300-bed University Hospital ''Policlinico Umberto I'' of Rome, Italy, were followed. Demographic characteristics, underlying diseases, invasive procedures, imaging studies, isolated microorganisms, treatment, complications, and outcome were recorded. Results: Eighty-one patients of mean age 57.7 ± 14.7 years with lumbosacral (72.8%), thoracic (14.8%), and cervical tract (12.3%) site of infection were included, of which 38 developed communityacquired (CA) spondylodiscitis and 43 developed hospital-acquired (HA) spondylodiscitis. Underlying disease was present in 49.4% of patients. HA spondylodiscitis was diagnosed earlier (46.8 ± 49.7 days) than CA spondylodiscitis (65.0 ± 55.4 days) (P < 0.05). The most frequently isolated microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus (28 strains, 43.1%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) (eight strains, 12.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (eight strains, 12.3%), and three methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains were isolated in CA spondylodiscitis. Fungi and yeasts, isolated in six patients, represented 9.2% of all strains but 17.6% when considering only HA spondylodiscitis. Over 85% of patients were managed by conservative treatment alone, and the treatment time depended on clinical and laboratory evidence. Poor outcome was recorded in 12 (14.8%) patients, and was associated with neurological deficit symptoms (relative risk [RR] 2.87; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-8.07; P < 0.05) and the time between diagnosis and the onset of symptoms ‡ 60 days (RR 2.65; 95% CI 0.92-7.59; P < 0.05). Conclusions: Infectious spondylodiscitis affects most frequently the elderly population, who are more exposed to healthcare contacts. Consequently, the infection etiology includes a growing proportion of multi-resistant bacteria and fungi.
Spondylodiscitis: update on diagnosis and management
Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 2010
Spondylodiscitis, a term encompassing vertebral osteomyelitis, spondylitis and discitis, is the main manifestation of haematogenous osteomyelitis in patients aged over 50 years. Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant pathogen, accounting for about half of non-tuberculous cases. Diagnosis is difficult and often delayed or missed due to the rarity of the disease and the high frequency of low back pain in the general population. In this review of the published literature, we found no randomized trials on treatment and studies were too heterogeneous to allow comparison. Improvements in surgical and radiological techniques and the discovery of antimicrobial therapy have transformed the outlook for patients with this condition, but morbidity remains significant. Randomized trials are needed to assess optimal treatment duration, route of administration, and the role of combination therapy and newer agents.
Spontaneous Spondylodiscitis - Epidemiology, Clinical Features, Diagnosis and Treatment
Folia Medica
Spontaneous spondylodiscitis is a rare but serious infectious disease which is a combination of an inflammatory process, involving one or more adjacent vertebral bodies (spondylitis), the intervertebral discs (discitis) and finally - the neighboring neural structures. In most cases the condition is due to a hematogenous infection and can affect all regions of the spinal cord, but it is usually localized in the lumbar area. The most common clinical symptom is a pronounced, constant and increasing nocturnal paravertebral pain, while consequently different degrees of residual neurological symptoms from nerve roots and/or spinal cord may appear. The disease course is chronic and the lack of specific symptoms often prolongs the time between its debut and the diagnosis. This delay in diagnosis determines its potentially high morbidity and mortality. Treatment is conservative in cases with no residual neurological symptoms and consists of antibiotic therapy and immobilization. Surgical tre...
Scientific Reports, 2021
Establishing a multidisciplinary approach regarding the treatment of spondylodiscitis and analyzing its effect compared to a single discipline approach. 361 patients diagnosed with spondylodiscitis were included in this retrospective pre-post intervention study. The treatment strategy was either established by a single discipline approach (n = 149, year 2003-2011) or by a weekly multidisciplinary infections conference (n = 212, year 2013-2018) consisting of at least an orthopedic surgeon, medical microbiologist, infectious disease specialist and pathologist. Recorded data included the surgical and antibiotic strategy, complications leading to operative revision, recovered microorganisms, as well as the total length of hospital and intensive care unit stay. Compared to a single discipline approach, performing the multidisciplinary infections conference led to significant changes in anti-infective and surgical treatment strategies. Patients discussed in the conference showed significantly reduced days of total antibiotic treatment (66 ± 31 vs 104 ± 31, p < 0.001). Moreover, one stage procedures and open transpedicular screw placement were more frequently performed following multidisciplinary discussions, while there were less involved spinal segments in terms of internal fixation as well as an increased use of intervertebral cages instead of autologous bone graft (p < 0.001). Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis were the most frequently recovered organisms in both patient groups. No significant difference was found comparing inpatient complications between the two groups or the total in-hospital stay. Implementation of a weekly infections conference is an effective approach to introduce multidisciplinarity into spondylodiscitis management. These conferences significantly altered the treatment plan compared to a single discipline approach. Therefore, we highly recommend the implementation to optimize treatment modalities for patients. Spondylodiscitis, also referred to as vertebral osteomyelitis, is a serious disease with an incidence of 2.2-5.8 per 100.000 and a mortality rate of up to 20% 1. Main treatment goals include the elimination of the infection as well as preservation or restoration of spinal stability and neurological function 1,2. Due to its complexity, diagnosis and treatment of spondylodiscitis remain very challenging and require a coordinated approach 2. Surgical management consists of a wide spectrum of procedures including specimen recovery, debridement of the septic focus, instrumented stabilization, autologous bone graft or cage interposition, vertebral replacement and spinal decompression. Also, the surgical strategies in terms of approach (anterior, posterior or combined), quantity (single-stage or two-stage) and invasiveness (open and percutaneous) need to be defined 1-6. Moreover, complicated by the emergence of highly resistant, Gram-positive and-negative organisms, duration and choice of antimicrobials may be challenging. Furthermore, conservative and additional options such as immobilization, bed rest and physical therapy have to be considered in the treatment plan 2,7,8. Still, the optimal treatment modalities and their indications are controversial and precise recommendations are lacking 1,2,7 .
Management of Patients with Spondylodiscitis: An Overview
2021
Background:Spinal infections can be described etiologically as pyogenic, granulomatous (tuberculous, brucellar, fungal) and parasitic spondylodiscitis, a term encompassing vertebral osteomyelitis, spondylitis and discitis, which are considered different manifestations of the same pathological process; epidural abscess, which can be primary or secondary to spondylodiscitis and facet joint arthropathy.When infection affects the intervertebral disc, the term to describe this condition is usually spondylodiscitis. If invades the endplates or the vertebral body, the infection is more correctly designated for vertebral osteomyelitis or spondylitis. However, at the time of diagnosis in many cases, the infection has already compromised these two structures; therefore, both terms are frequently used.Conservative treatment is the standard of care for patients with spondylodiscitis, using multidisciplinary approaches involving microbiologists, infectious disease consultants, anaesthetists, int...
Spontaneous spondylodiscitis: presentation, risk factors, diagnosis, management, and outcome
International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2009
Background: Spontaneous spondylodiscitis is an uncommon disease, which may result in serious complications with potentially high morbidity and mortality. We conducted a prospective case study over a 2-year period in order to analyze the clinical features, approaches to management, and outcome of spondylodiscitis. Methods: Eight consecutive patients (four men, four women; age range 53-82 years) suffering from spondylodiscitis were identified during the study period. Parameters recorded included: demographics, past medical history, predisposing factors, presenting signs and symptoms, spinal level and extension of the infection, laboratory indices of inflammation, microbiological testing, radiological assessment, kind and duration of treatment, follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, and outcome. Results: Duration of symptoms varied from 14 to 90 days. All patients had back pain; fever !38 8C was present in 5/8 (62.5%) and neurological findings in 6/8 (75%). Diabetes mellitus was identified in six (75%). Most of the patients had elevated laboratory markers of inflammation. At the initial MRI, 12 anatomical levels were found. The microorganism was identified in 7/8 by blood or bone marrow cultures (50% Staphylococcus aureus). None of the patients underwent surgical intervention. Seven patients (87.5%) recovered to full activity; follow-up MRI study results were not always in parallel with the clinical improvement of patients. Conclusions: Spontaneous spondylodiscitis should be considered in every patient with back pain accompanied by fever and laboratory markers of inflammation. The major predisposing risk factor seems to be uncontrolled diabetes.
Infectious spondylodiscitis: A twenty-year experience from a single tertiary referral center
The Egyptian Rheumatologist, 2018
Aim of the work: To study microbiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of spondylodiscitis (SD) and predisposing risk factors in Tunisian patients. Patients and methods: Patients with SD admitted to Rheumatology Departments, Southern Tunisia, were retrospectively studied. Medical records were reviewed over the last 20-years and investigations included bacterial cultures, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed-tomography percutaneous disc biopsy (CT-PDB). Results: There were 67 SD cases (incidence of 0.17/100,000 inhabitants/year); 38 men and 29 women and mean age was 55 ± 16 years. Advanced age, tuberculosis and brucellar contagion were the predominant risk factors. The duration from onset to diagnosis was 133.6 ± 115 days. Low back pain (LBP) was the most common symptom. Lumbar spine was the most frequent location. Neurologic symptoms (radicular pain, spinal chord compression, neurologic loss) were observed in 31 patients. C-reactive protein was elevated in 54 (52.17 ± 43.97 mg/L). MRI showed abnormalities in 60 patients and CT-PDB was performed in 39. Pathogens were isolated in 43 cases. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MT) was the most common (55.8%) followed by staphylococcus aureus (18.6%), brucella (16.3%), Escherichia coli (EC) (4.7%) and streptococcus-b in 1 patient; 1 patient had both MT and EC. Medical treatment was prescribed in 91% and surgery performed in 6. 88% of patients improved after 24 months follow-up. Conclusion: Spondylodiscitis should be considered for all patients presenting with chronic LBP with systemic symptoms and evidence inflammation. MRI is required to establish a diagnosis and evaluate the spread of infection. CT-PDB is useful to identify the causative microorganism before antibiotic administration. These findings could to pave the way for constructing national guidelines.
Spondylodiscitis: evaluation of patients in a tertiary hospital
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 2014
Introduction: Spondylodiscitis (SD) is an uncommon but important infection. The aim of this work was to study the risk factors, bacteriological features, clinical, laboratory and radiological findings of SD, and to shed light on the initial treatment. Methodology: A total of 107 patients who underwent treatment for SD were evaluated. The diagnosis of SD was defined by clinical findings, complete blood count, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), serum tube agglutination (STA) test, Ziehl-Neelsen staining, culture, histopathology, and radiological methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans. Results: Of the 107 cases, ranging between 17 to 83 years of age, 64 (59.8%) were male. Twenty-seven (25.2%) patients had diabetes mellitus. Laboratory investigations revealed elevated CRP in 70 (65%) patients, elevated ESR in 65 (61%) patients, and elevated white blood cell (WBC) counts in 41 (38.3%) patients. Thirty-six (33.6%) patients were identified as having brucellar SD, and 5 (4.7%) patients were identified as having tuberculous SD. A total of 66 (61.6%) patients were determined to have pyogenic SD. The most frequently isolated microorganism was Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotic therapy was given intravenously to all pyogenic SD patients. Conclusions: The incidence of SD has increased as a result of the higher life expectancy of older patients with chronic debilitating diseases and the increase of spinal surgical procedures. In patients with low back pain, SD should be considered as a diagnosis. For effective treatment, it is important to determine the etiology of the disease.
Epidemiological and clinical features of pyogenic spondylodiscitis
European review for medical and pharmacological sciences, 2012
Pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PS) is an uncommon but important infection, that represents 3-5% of all cases of osteomyelitis. The annual incidence in Europe has been estimated to be from 0.4 to 2.4/100,000. A has been reported, with peaks at age less than 20 years and in the group aged 50-70 years. The incidence of PS seems to be increasing in the last years as a result of the higher life expectancy of older patients with chronic debilitating diseases, the rise in the prevalence of immunosuppressed patients, intravenous drug abuse, and the increase in spinal instrumentation and surgery. PS is in most cases a hematogenous infection. Staphylococcus aureus is the most frequent causative microorganism, accounting for about one half of the cases of PS. Gram-negative rods are causative agents in 7-33% of PS cases. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) have been reported in 5-16% of cases. Staphylococcus epidermidis is often related to post-operative infections and intracardiac device-relat...
Infectious spondylodiscitis: has there been any evolution in the diagnostic and treatment outcomes?
Coluna/Columna, 2014
Objective: To evaluate the clinical and radiological results of treatment of patients with spondylodiscitis. Methods: Imaging exams used in this study were plain radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging of the spine. Results: Data from 33 patients, 10 (30.3%) females and 23 (69.7%) males were evaluated. The average time to diagnosis was four months and 28 days (SD ± 1 month and 28 days) and 19 patients (57.5%) presented neurological deficit. Surgical treatment was performed in 22 patients (66.6%) and three patients (9.1%) had complications from the surgery. Conclusions: Despite technological advances in complementary exams, early diagnosis of spondylodiscitis remains a challenge. However, drug treatment associated with surgery shows good results.