Vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Nocardia asteroides: report and review of the literature.

Laurin, J M; Resnik, C S; Wheeler, D; Needleman, B W · J Rheumatol · 1991

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

A 65-year-old man with 9 months of radicular lower back pain 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 etiologic organism, N. asteroides was cultured from an open biopsy sample of the affected vertebrae. This and 8 other cases in the English literature of vertebral osteomyelitis caused by N. asteroides are reviewed.

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