Salmonella potsdam causing lumbar vertebral osteomyelitis: A case report.

RationaleSalmonella osteomyelitis is an uncommon complication of salmonella infection, especially the salmonella vertebral osteomyelitis (SVO).Patient concernsWe reported a case of a 29-year-old female who presented with serious lower back pain and severe limitation of motion for 50 days with no obvious inducements. She once had a fever up to 39.5°C. Physical examination only revealed limited motion of lower back without neurological complications. The laboratory results revealed no specificity. MRI of the lumbar spine revealed a spondylodiscitis at L4-L5. She underwent anterior lateral approach debridement and percutaneous posterior instrumentation.DiagnosesTissue and abscess culture grew showed Salmonella Potsdam infection.InterventionsWith susceptibility testing guidance, the patient was treated with intravenous levofloxacin and ceftazidime for a period of 3 weeks and another 3-week oral antibiotics therapy.OutcomesThe patient recovered well with no neurological deficits during the follow-up time.LessonsSVO is really rare and it alerts us the importance to consider uncommon pathogens in the differential diagnosis in which the etiological evidences are crucial of healthy individuals.