A unique case of Fusobacterium nucleatum spondylodiscitis communicating with a pleural empyema through a fistula

Species (spp.) belonging to the genus Fusobacterium are anaerobic commensals colonizing the upper respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, and the genitals. Infections with Fusobacterium spp. have been reported at many anatomical sites, including pneumonias and pleural empyemas; however, there...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:APMIS : acta pathologica, microbiologica et immunologica Scandinavica microbiologica et immunologica Scandinavica, 2021-11, Vol.129 (11), p.626-630
Main Authors: Bonnesen, Barbara, Sivapalan, Pradeesh, Naghavi, Hadi, Back Holmgaard, Dennis, Sloth, Carsten, Wiese, Lothar, Kolekar, Shailesh
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibiotics
Bacteremia
Commensals
Communication
Computed tomography
Empyema
Fistula
Fistulae
Fusobacterium
Fusobacterium nucleatum
Gastrointestinal system
Gastrointestinal tract
Infections
Patients
Pleurae
pleural empyema
Respiratory tract
Spondylodiscitis
Thorax
Tissues
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Species (spp.) belonging to the genus Fusobacterium are anaerobic commensals colonizing the upper respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract, and the genitals. Infections with Fusobacterium spp. have been reported at many anatomical sites, including pneumonias and pleural empyemas; however, there are very few published cases of Fusobacterium spp. causing spondylodiscitis or fistulas. Bone infections with Fusobacterium can spread directly to surrounding muscular tissue or by hematogenous transmission to any other tissue including pleurae and lungs. Similarly, pleural infections can spread Fusobacterium spp. to any other tissue including fistulas and bone. Concomitant pleural empyema and spondylodiscitis are rare; however, there are a few published cases with concomitant disease, although none caused by Fusobacterium spp. A 77‐year‐old female patient was assessed using computed tomography (CT) scanning of the thorax and abdomen, as well as analyses of fluid drained from the region affected by the pleural empyema. A diagnosis of Fusobacterium empyema, fistula, bacteremia, and spondylodiscitis was made, and the patient’s condition improved significantly after drainage of the pleural empyema and relevant long‐term antibiotic treatment. We describe the first confirmed case with concomitant infection with Fusobacterium nucleatum as spondylodiscitis and pleural empyema connected by a fistula.
ISSN:0903-4641
1600-0463
DOI:10.1111/apm.13171