Acute epidural abscess

Spinal epidural abscess presenting as intra-abdominal pathology: a case report and literature review

“…Unfortunately, neurologic function is more likely to worsen in patients misdiagnosed with another disorder before the correct diagnosis of spinal epidural abscess is made and appropriate therapy initiated (6). Moreover, several studies have reported rapid progression of symptoms from variable weakness and sensory changes to complete paralysis within several hours in patients with spinal epidural abscess-much like what was observed with the patient in this case report (1,2,7,8).…”

Spinal Epidural Abscess Due to Streptococcus pneumoniae in an HIV-Infected Adult

“…was reported in the majority of these cases. Blood cultures were positive in six out of 11 patients and always coincided with the organism cultured from the abscess fluid [3,4,9]. Only one patient [2] had negative blood cultures but grew S. pneumoniae from the abscess fluid.…”

“…Though Staphylococcus aureus is the most commonly isolated organism, pneumococci have been implicated as the causative agents of SEA in patients with predisposing conditions (diabetes mellitus, intravenous drug abuse, spinal surgery, corticosteroid therapy, chronic renal failure etc.). Our review of the MEDLINE literature from 1966 to August 2000 produced only 11 cases of SEA due to Streptococcus pneumoniae who were all managed with surgical drainage plus antibiotics [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]. We describe the first case of SEA secondary to spontaneous pneumococcal sepsis in a patient with AIDS, who was successfully treated with antibiotics alone.…”

PrimaryClostridium DifficileSpinal Epidural Abscess

“…SEA has been staged by Heusner according to its clinical features. 7,8 This patient would have been Stage 1 due to the absence of neurological signs ( Table 1).…”