Successful Treatment of Escherichia coli-Related Spondylitis With an Extended Meropenem Infusion Time for a 72-Year-Old Woman: A Case Report.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) causes spinal infections relatively rarely and is often closely associated with parenteral infections. E. coli spondylitis can cause fever and local pain and, in severe cases, can lead to bone destruction, abscess formation, and even the risk of high paraplegia. Therefore, timely and precise diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial. We report successful conservative management of E. coli spondylitis in a 72-year-old female using metagenomic sequencing-guided prolonged meropenem infusion. Extending the infusion time of meropenem achieved clinical resolution without surgery, demonstrating this strategy's efficacy for carbapenem-sensitive spinal infections.