Work

Bartonella henselae infection presenting as cervical spine osteomyelitis: case report

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: Bartonella henselae is a gram-negative bacillus implicated in cat-scratch disease. Cat-scratch disease is usually self-limiting and results in local lymphadenopathy. In rare circumstances, patients may develop endocarditis, neuroretinitis, or osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis of the cervical spine is exceedingly rare, especially in the pediatric population, and to date there have been only 4 previously reported cases of cervical spine osteomyelitis caused by B. henselae, all of which were treated surgically. In this article, the authors report the case of a 7-year-old boy who presented with neck swelling and was found to have a C2-4 paravertebral B. henselae abscess with osteomyelitis of C-3 and epidural extension. To the authors' knowledge, this represents the first case in the literature of a cervical spine B. henselae infection managed conservatively.

Source: Journal of Neurosurgery Pediatrics

DOI: 10.3171/2018.2.peds17600

Authors: Syed Hassan A. Akbari, Christine E. Averill, Jarod L. Roland, Rachel Orscheln, Jennifer Strahle

Institutions: St. Louis Children's Hospital, Washington University in St. Louis

Language: English

Topic: Bartonella species infections research

Subfield: Parasitology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W2803952185