Vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Nocardia asteroides: report and review of the literature
Laurin, J.M.; Resnik, C.S.; Wheeler, D.; Needleman, B.W.
Journal of Rheumatology 18(3): 455-458
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0315-162X PMID: 1830338 Document Number: 385327
A case is reported in a 65-yr-old man with 9 months of radicular lower back pain who was admitted for treatment of presumed malignancy of the lumbar spine. Lumbar radiographs showed destruction of the L4-L5 endplates and obliteration of the disc space, which was more compatible with an infectious process. After 2 different closed biopsy specimens failed to reveal an aetiological organism, N. asteroides was cultured from an open biopsy sample of the affected vertebrae. The patient was treated with sulfadiazine (1 g twice daily). Eight other cases of vertebral osteomyelitis caused by N. asteroides reported in the literature are reviewed.