Infect Chemother.  2008 Aug;40(4):233-236. 10.3947/ic.2008.40.4.233.

Pyogenic Spondylitis in a Healthy Adult Caused by Burkholderia cepacia

• Yang BH
• Lee MS
• Lee JH
• Lee HJ

• KMID: 2170239
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2008.40.4.233

Abstract

Burkholderia cepacia is an important pathogen of humans in both immunocompromised or hospitalized patients. This aerobic gram-negative rod causes various clinically significant infections such as pneumonia, bacteremia, urinary tract infection, peritonitis, endophthalmitis, and keratitis. This uncommon pathogen is mainly associated with cystic fibrosis, dialysis, and immunocompromised states. We observed a 73-year-old woman without any underlying diseases, who had both lower leg pain and fever. She was later found to have spondylitis with epidural abscess at L5-S1. Culture of the epidural abscess revealed the growth of B. cepacia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of pyogenic spondylitis caused by a rare infection of B. cepacia to be reported in Korea

Keyword

Burkholderia cepacia; Spondylitis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Bacteremia
Burkholderia
Burkholderia cepacia
Cystic Fibrosis
Dialysis
Endophthalmitis
Epidural Abscess
Female
Fever
Humans
Keratitis
Korea
Leg
Peritonitis
Pneumonia
Spondylitis
Urinary Tract Infections

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbo-sacral spine demonstrates epidural abscess, discitis and adjacent edema at L5-S1 level.

Reference

1. Huang CH, Jang TN, Liu CY, Fung CP, Yu KW, Wong WW. Characteristics of patients with Burkholderia cepaciacia bacteremia. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2001. 34:215–219.

2. Marioni G, Rinaldi R, Ottaviano G, Marchese-Ragona R, Savastano M, Staffieri A. Cervical necrotizing fasciitis: a novel clinical presentation of Burkholderia cepacia infection. J Infect. 2006. 53:e219–e222.

3. Held MR, Begier EM, Beardsley DS, Browne FA, Martinello RA, Baltimore RS, McDonald LC, Jensen B, Hadler JL, Dembry LM. Life-threatening sepsis caused by Burkholderia cepacia from contaminated intravenous flush solutions prepared by a compounding pharmacy in another state. Pediatrics. 2006. 118:e212–e215.

4. Ramsey AH, Skonieczny P, Coolidge DT, Kurzynski TA, Proctor ME, Davis JP. Burkholderia cepacia lower respiratory tract infection associated with exposure to a respiratory therapist. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2001. 22:423–426.

5. Alfonso Olmos M, Silva González A, Duart Clemente J, Villas Tomé C. Infected vertebroplasty due to uncommon bacteria solved surgically: a rare and threatening life complication of a common procedure report of a case and a review of the literature. Spine. 2006. 31:E770–E773.

6. Miki RA, Rubin LE, Kirk J, Dodds SD. Spontaneous septic arthritis caused by Burkholderia cepacia. Iowa Orthop J. 2006. 26:147–150.

7. Jaramillo-de la Torre JJ, Bohinski RJ, Kuntz C 4th. Vertebral osteomyelitis. Neurosurg Clin N Am. 2006. 17:339–351.

8. Ledson MJ, Gallagher MJ, Walshaw MJ. Chronic Burkholderia cepacia bronchiectasis in a non-cystic fibrosis individual. Thorax. 1998. 53:430–432.

9. Waterer GW, Jones CB, Wunderink RG. Bacteremic community-acquired pneumonia in an immunocompetent adult due to Burkholderia cepacia. Chest. 1999. 116:1842–1843.

10. Lee JH, Lee SH, Hong SJ, Choi YC, Hwang EG. A case of lung abscess caused by Burkholderia cepacia in healthy child. Korean J Pediatr. 2007. 50:89–94.