Cervical Osteomyelitis

Abstract

VERTEBRAL bodies are frequent sites of pyogenic osteomyelitis in the adult.^1-3Anatomically, lumbar vertebrae are most commonly involved, followed by thoracic and, rarely, cervical vertebrae. In most series, vertebral osteomyelitis occurs in the setting of urinary tract disease^2,4,5or intravenous (IV) drug use.^2,3 The preponderant pathogen in pyogenic osteomyelitis is<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>,^1,2followed by Gram-negative rods usually from a urinary tract focus.⁵<i>Staphylococcus epidermidis</i>is a rare cause of osteomyelitis.^4,5The first report of osteomyelitis in hemodialysis patients implicated<i>S epidermidis</i>in three of five cases, either as the sole etiologic agent or combined with<i>S aureus</i>or<i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>.⁶We describe two cases of cervical osteomyelitis due to<i>S epidermidis</i>in long-term hemodialysis patients. <h3>Report of Cases</h3><h3>Case 1.—</h3> A 42-year-old man was admitted in February 1976, with complaints of neck and shoulder pains of three days' duration. He had a history