Hematogenous candida osteomyelitis. Report of three cases and review of the literature.

Candida osteomyelitis of the spine and intervertebral disc developed in three patients without evidence of back trauma of overlying cutaneous infection. Two patients were prone to the development of disseminated candidiasis by the use of multiple antibiotics and other predisposing modalities following abdominal surgery. One patient had no identifiable cause for development of the infection. The diagnosis was established in all three cases by x-ray evidence of osteomyelitis and culture from needle aspirate. Two patients had bone scans consistent with infection. Each patient received different therapy. One was treated with amphotericin B, one with spinal fusion and 5-fluorocytosine, and one with no antifungal therapy. All patients had complete healing of the involved vertebrae. Candida organisms have the potential to cause destructive bone infection following hematogenous dissemination. The presence of Candida osteomyelitis may be helpful in diagnosing disseminated candidiasis.