Epidural abscess and spondylitis caused by Veillonella parvula in a man on hemodialysis

Abstract

Veillonella species rarely cause serious infections, but the incidence of infection has been increasing among immunocompromised individuals. This case of an epidural abscess and spondylitis caused by Veillonella parvula in a hemodialysis patient illustrates the importance of performing anaerobic blood culture in immunocompromised patients with signs of infection.

Veillonella parvula: An update from a stomatological point of view

“…It has been documented that Veillonella parvula can cause spondylitis [1] , osteomyelitis [3] , and epidural abscesses in immunocompromised patients [13] . This bacterium has been seen in children with pneumonia [14] and acromioclavicular septic arthritis [15] , reduces the activity of bronchial epithelia in obstructive pulmonary disease [16,17] and produces nasal sepsis [18] .…”