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Review
. 2021 Oct 14;11(10):1899.
doi: 10.3390/diagnostics11101899.

Spondylodiscitis Caused by Aspergillus Species

Christos Koutserimpas  1 , Ifigeneia Chamakioti  1 , Symeon Naoum  1 , Konstantinos Raptis  1 , Kalliopi Alpantaki  2 , Diamantis P Kofteridis  3 , George Samonis  3
Affiliations
Review

Spondylodiscitis Caused by Aspergillus Species

Christos Koutserimpas et al. Diagnostics (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: Spondylodiscitis caused by Aspergillus spp. is a rare but life-threatening clinical entity. However, a consensus on diagnostic criteria and most effective medical management is still missing. The present study is a review of all published cases of spondylodiscitis caused by Aspergillus spp., in an effort to elucidate epidemiology, patients' characteristics, andand the medical and surgical treatment options and their effectiveness.

Methods: A thorough review of all existing spondylodiscitis cases caused by Aspergillus was performed. Data regarding demographics, responsible fungus, time between symptoms' onset and firm diagnosis, antifungal treatment (AFT), surgical intervention, andand the infection's outcome were investigated.

Results: A total of 118 Aspergillus spondylodiscitis cases, yielding 119 Aspergillus spp. isolates, were identified in the literature. The patients' mean age was 40.6 years. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (after its introduction) indicated the diagnosis in most cases (66.7%), while definite diagnosis was established through cultures in the majority of cases (73.7%). Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated in most cases (73; 61.3%), followed by Aspergillus flavus (15; 12.6%) andand Aspergillus nidulans and terreus (7; 5.9%, each). The mean time between symptoms' onset and diagnosis was 5.7 months. Amphotericin B was the preferred antifungal regiment (84 cases; 71.2%), followed by voriconazole (31; 26.3%), and the mean AFT duration was 6.1 months. The final outcome was successful in 93 cases (78.8%). Furthermore, 77 patients (65.3%) underwent surgery.

Conclusions: Spondylodiscitis caused by Aspergillus spp. represents a clinical challenge, requiring a multidisciplinary approach. The present review has shown that prolonged AFT has been the standard of care of the studied cases, while surgical treatment seems to play an important role in selected patents.

Keywords: Aspergillus; aspergillosis; fungal vertebral infection; fungus; osseous fungal infection; spondylodiscitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have nothing to declare. No conflict of interest.

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