Spinal aspergillus osteomyelitis

Abstract

Aspergillus species are uncommon etiologic agents of vertebral osteomyelitis. We describe two patients with lumbar vertebral aspergillosis precipitated by the use of corticosteroids and review 39 cases in the literature. The mean age of the population was 40.04 years. There was male predominance (78% of cases), mainly lumbar involvement (53.7%), and monomicrobial nature of infection; 65.8% of the patients had predisposing factors, while 34.1% had none. Back pain (53.6% of cases) was the predominant symptom, while neurological deficits were present in 29.2% of the patients. White blood cell counts were elevated in 12.2% of the patients, and erythrocyte sedimentation rates were >40 mm/h in 39%. The overall recovery rate was 68.3%, and the mortality rate was 26.8%. Although aspergillus osteomyelitis is primarily treated medically, certain cases may require surgical intervention.