LAUSR

Background The increasing proportion of iatrogenic spondylodiscitis (SD) is a prominent feature of infectious DS in recent decades Objectives To describe iatrogenic clinical, aetiological and evolutive SD features. Methods We report 6 cases of iatrogenic DS collected in our department in 2001-2012 period. Results All patients were male. The average age was of 49 (35 to 68 years). Four cases of SD were caused by direct inoculation (surgical in 3 cases, chemonucleolysis in 1 case) and 2 cases of hematogenous SD from an initial outbreak. The seat of infection is lumbar in all cases. Spinal pain is almost constant. The admission examination noted apyrexia in 5 cases. A biological inflammatory syndrome was present in 5 cases and hyperleucocytosis in 2 cases. The bacteriological investigation was able to isolate a methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (SAMS) and a proteus mirabilis in one patient and SAMS in another. The radiological assessment made it possible to objectify a para vertebral abscess in 5 cases and an epilepitis in 1 case. The evolution was favorable in all cases under antibiotherapy of average duration of 4.5 months and immobilization of the spine by corset. Conclusion The detection of an anaerobic germ causing infectious spondylodiscitis should search for an iatrogenic portal chronologically and anatomically close to the vertebral disc infection. Disclosure of Interests None declared