Salmonella
spondylitis is a rare illness, and it generally occurs in patients who have already had
sickle cell anemia, and it is even rarer in patients who are without
sickle cell anemia. A 61-year-old male patient was hospitalized for the evaluation of his renal function and then treatment was started for his
back pain. His
back pain had developed about 2 months previously without any specific
trauma. Only a bulging disc was detected on the initial lumbar MRI. Regarding his
fever, it was diagnosed as possible atypical
pneumonia,
scrub typhus, etc., and multiple
antibiotic therapy was administered. At the time of transfer, the leucocytes and
hs-CRP were normal and the ESR was elevated. A diagnostic epidural block was performed for his
back pain, but his symptoms were not improved. Lumbar MRI was performed again and it showed findings of infective
spondylitis. Salmonella D was identified on the
abscess culture and so he was diagnosed as suffering from Salmonella
spondylitis. After
antibiotic treatment, his
back pain was improved and the patient was able to walk.