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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Revista Chilena de Ortopedia y Traumatología 2022; 63(02): e139-e144
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1753550
Case Report

Spondylodiscitis due to Haemophilus parainfluenzae: A Case Report

Article in several languages: español | English
Ratko Yurac 
1   Departamento de Cirugía Ortopédica, Clínica Alemana de Santiago-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
,
Macarena Santorcuato
1   Departamento de Cirugía Ortopédica, Clínica Alemana de Santiago-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
,
Guisela Quinteros 
2   Departamento de Cirugía Ortopédica-Cirugía de Columna, Hospital Regional de Talca, Talca, Región del Maule, Chile
,
Juan J. Zamorano 
1   Departamento de Cirugía Ortopédica, Clínica Alemana de Santiago-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
,
Bartolomé Marré
1   Departamento de Cirugía Ortopédica, Clínica Alemana de Santiago-Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile
› Author Affiliations Funding The authors declare that they have received no funding for the performance of the present study.
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Abstract

Introduction Haemophilus parainfluenzae (HP) is a gram-negative coccobacillus and an opportunistic pathogen. It is rarely associated with spinal- and musculoskeletal-site infections, and very little reported in the literature.

Case Presentation An otherwise healthy, 45-year-old woman who presented with a two-week history of progressive low back pain, fever, coryza and nasal congestion, was found to have intervertebral discitis caused by HP, confirmed by two positive blood cultures and progressive lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. The MRI findings were atypical, consisting of a psoas abscess and small anterior epidural and intraspinal fluid collections associated with spondylodiscitis. The initial diagnosis was delayed because the initial MRI failed to reveal findings suggestive of an infectious process. The treatment consisted of a long course of intravenous followed by oral antibiotics, ultimately yielding a good clinical response.

Discussion and Conclusion Haemophilus parainfluenzae is a very rare pathogen in spondylodiscitis. Nonetheless, it should be considered, especially in patients presenting with low back pain and fever and/or gram bacteremia. The initial work-up should include contrast-enhanced MRI of the spine. Although rare, spondylodiscitis and a psoas abscess can present concomitantly. Prolonged antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment.

Keywords

Haemophilus parainfluenzae - low back pain - spondylodiscitis - magnetic resonance imaging - psoas abscess


Publication History

Received: 20 September 2020

Accepted: 18 May 2022

Article published online:
03 October 2022

© 2022. Sociedad Chilena de Ortopedia y Traumatologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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