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Mycoplasma hominis infection following neurosurgical intervention in a patient with spinal cord compression
Abstract
Introduction:
Mycoplasma hominis is a rare but recognized cause of post-operative wound infection. There are very few cases reported in the literature of M. hominis infection following neurosurgery.
Case presentation:
A 30-year-old woman with a history of chronic low back pain and symptoms consistent with sciatica underwent a microdiscectomy and anterior lumbar inter-body fusion for cord compression. Following surgery she developed an abscess overlying the lumbar surgical wound. Initial microbiological samples were negative on routine culture and the abscess recurred following surgical washout. Culture of a second specimen taken 1 month following the initial surgery revealed small colourless colonies that were not able to be seen on Gram stain. Molecular testing with 16S rRNA gene analysis confirmed M. hominis infection and the patient was treated with long-term oral moxifloxacin.
Conclusion:
Infection with M. hominis should be considered in culture-negative cases of post-operative wound infection where routine antibiotics fail. Diagnosis of Mycoplasma can be delayed due to the fastidious nature of the organism and may require molecular techniques. Initiation of appropriate antimicrobial treatment is often associated with a good clinical outcome.
- Received:
- Accepted:
- Published Online:
© 2016 The Authors