Infect Chemother.  2012 Dec;44(6):530-534. 10.3947/ic.2012.44.6.530.

Vertebral Osteomyelitis caused by Mycobacterium abscessus in an Immunocompetent Patient

• Je D
• Kang CI
• Joung JY
• Jeong H
• Cho YY
• Huh K
• Peck KR

• KMID: 1806949
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2012.44.6.530

Abstract

Vertebral osteomyelitis caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is rarely reported, especially in an immunocompetent host. NTM are usually not susceptible in vitro to antituberculous drugs, and appropriate antimicrobial therapy for treatment of NTM infection is based on susceptibility results, which vary between different NTM species; therefore, treatment of vertebral osteomyelitis caused by NTM is challenging. We report on the first case of vertebral osteomyelitis caused by M. abscessus in an otherwise healthy individual, confirmed by cultures of bone tissue obtained during surgery. Clinical cure was achieved with a combination of antimicrobial therapy and surgery. We also review previous reports of vertebral osteomyelitis caused by NTM.

Keyword

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria; Mycobacterium abscessus; Vertebral Osteomyelitis; Immunocompetent Host

MeSH Terms

Bone and Bones
Humans
Mycobacterium
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria
Osteomyelitis

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Spondylitis of the L2, L3 bodies with a prevertebral abscess is shown as low signal intensity on a T1-weighted image, high signal intensity on a T2-weighted image, and enhancement on a contrast media-enhanced T1-weighted image. (A) T1-weighted image, (B) T2-weighted image, (C) contrast media-enhanced T1-weighted image).

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