%0 Journal Article %A Carson, Henry J. %A Boyd, Jonnine %A Witt, Frederick L. %T Streptococcus pneumoniae infection of the lumbar epidural spine: a rare condition with distinctive signs requiring specialized intervention %D 2015 %J JMM Case Reports, %V 2 %N 4 %@ 2053-3721 %C e000063 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/jmmcr.0.000063 %K Streptococcus pneumoniae %K radicular pain %K acute onset %K vertebral column %I Microbiology Society, %X Introduction: Bacterial infection of the vertebral column is uncommon, but when it occurs, the meninges are at high risk. Case presentation: A patient presented with acute-onset back pain and signs of inflammation, excluding an elevated white count and bacteraemia. Laminectomy specimens showed infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae. No previous source of possible seeding of the bacteria was identified. Conclusion: The infection responded to intravenous ceftriaxone. This case informs us to be aware of infection in a case of back pain even without a prior source of infection. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/jmmcr/10.1099/jmmcr.0.000063