Bacteroides fragilis vertebral osteomyelitis secondary to anal dilatation.

STUDY

DESIGN

A case report of anaerobic vertebral osteomyelitis after anal dilatation.

OBJECTIVES

To present a patient with monomicrobial anaerobic vertebral osteomyelitis secondary to a previously undescribed source of infection.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: A 17-year-old boy presented with low back pain 3 months after anal dilatation.

METHODS

Physical examination, technetium-99m bone scan, plain radiograph, CT, and MRI studies of the lumbar spine were used to clinically diagnose lumbar osteomyelitis. Culture material from the involved disc was positive for Bacteroides fragilis.

RESULTS

The patient recovered after 8 weeks of treatment with oral metronidazole.

CONCLUSIONS

Bacteroides fragilis hematogenous osteomyelitis is a rare entity. This is the first reported case of such disease after anal dilatation.