A vertebral polymicrobial osteomyelitis with atypicial microorganisms: A case report

Vertebral Osteomyelitis (VO) is a rare disease, which has seen a gradual increase in its incidence over the past years. Here, we report a case, showing how difficult it can be to diagnose and manage a therapy in case of atypical microorganism. A 68-year-old man was hospitalized for a VO documented by blood cultures at Bacteroides fragilis. He first progressed favorably, but an increase in lumbar pain prompted, after an IRM, a percutaneous needle biopsy (PNB) that documented a recurrent VO at Corynebacterium striatum. In the face of this multi-microbial VO with atypicals microorganisms, a first PNB could have been discussed despite the positive blood cultures. This case report illustrates the complexity of management of VO, and its evolution according to the latest recommendations (interest of RMI during the follow-up, place of the TEP-scan, terms and conditions of immobilization, antibiotic administration methods).