Iatrogenic postoperative spondylodiscitis attributed to Burkholderia cepacia infection in an immunocompetent patient

Abstract

Background: Pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PS) is a rare infection involving the intervertebral disk space, adjacent vertebral endplates, and vertebral bodies. PS occurs in the elderly and immunocompromised patients, and is an uncommon cause of initial and/or postoperative PS. There are only seven cases involving this organism reported in literature. Case Description: Here, we present a 35-year-old male who following a lumbar discectomy developed a postoperative iatrogenic PS uniquely attributed to Burkholderia cepacia. The patient was successfully managed with postoperative surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy. Conclusion: Rarely, B. cepacia may be the offending organism resulting in a postoperative lumbar PS.