Candidal Spondylitis: Five New Cases and A Review of Previously Reported Cases |
Sang Woo Park, M.D., Je Hoon Jeong, M.D., Sang-Ho Choi, M.D.,Yang Soo Kim, M.D., Jun Hee Woo, M.D., Sang Ryong Jeon, M.D. |
Department of Neurological Surgery, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine Seoul, Korea |
Candidal Spondylitis: Five New Cases and A Review of Previously Reported Cases |
Sang Woo Park, M.D., Je Hoon Jeong, M.D., Sang-Ho Choi, M.D.,Yang Soo Kim, M.D., Jun Hee Woo, M.D., Sang Ryong Jeon, M.D. |
Department of Neurological Surgery, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine Seoul, Korea |
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Abstract |
Candidal spondylitis is an uncommon disease. Clinical, laboratory and radiological signs of fungal spondylitis are non- specific, often resulting in delayed diagnosis. The present report describes 5 patients with spondylitis caused by Can- dida species, and reviews additional 80 such cases presented in the literature. Of the 5 present cases, preoperative radiological diagnoses were metastasis in one patient and pyogenic or tuberculous spondylitis in all other patients. Risk factors for the present patients were previous major surgery, repeated invasive procedures such as transarterial che- moembolization, and use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Two of the 5 cases had a delayed diagnosis. Clinicians must suspect candidal spondylitis in patients with spondylitis and candidiasis risk factors. In addition, apparent vertebral in- fection according to radiological studies should result in culturing of biopsy samples, including fungi. Such culturing should be performed before antibiotics therapy to avoid delayed diagnosis and to allow differentiation from other po- tential causative agents. |
Keywords:
Candidal SpondylitisㆍSpondylitisㆍFungus |
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