Open AccessSpontaneous Bacteroides fragilis spondylodiscitis in an elderly lady
Author(s) -
Sharon Weinberg,
Patrick Tabet,
Carly McGregor,
Alice Maria Arvidsson
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2019-233637
Subject(s) - spondylodiscitis , bacteroides fragilis , medicine , metronidazole , flucloxacillin , ceftriaxone , surgery , discitis , spondylitis , antibiotics , microbiology and biotechnology , radiology , magnetic resonance imaging , bacteria , genetics , ankylosing spondylitis , biology , staphylococcus aureus
A 76-year-old woman presented following two episodes of unexplained falls at home. Blood cultures were positive for Bacteroides fragilis and following investigations she was diagnosed with L4/L5 spondylodiscitis confirmed on spine MRI. She was initially treated with intravenous metronidazole and flucloxacillin prior to switching to ceftriaxone with good results. No primary cause of B. fragilis bacteraemia was found in this case. B. fragilis is a rare cause of spondylodiscitis.