Eikenella corrodens discitis after spinal surgery: case report and literature review

Abstract

Eikenella corrodens is part of the normal flora of the mouth and upper respiratory tract and is usually associated with dental and head and neck infections. We report a case of Eikenella discitis occurring soon after spinal surgery in an otherwise healthy patient, review the literature on bone and joint infections unrelated to human bites and fist-fight injuries, and stress the importance of definitive diagnosis in post-operative spinal infections.