Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Vertebral Osteomyelitis Following Epidural Catheterization: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Indwelling epidural catheters are frequently used to manage postoperative pain. This report describes a patient who developed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) vertebral osteomyelitis of the lumbar spine following epidural catheterization. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of MRSA vertebral osteomyelitis secondary to epidural catheter use in the English orthopedic literature. The patient and his family consented to publishing the data.

Evolution and Progression of Spondylodiskitis: A Case Presentation

“…Infections associated with pelvic surgical procedures (such as oocyte retrieval procedure in this patient) can provide bacteria a direct route of entry to the lumbar spine through the deep pelvic veins (Batson plexus) [9]. Vertebral osteomyelitis and diskitis after epidural anesthesia catheterization are extremely rare [10]. The incidence of epidural infections after epidural anesthesia varies from 0.015% to 0.7% [11].…”