Spinal epidural abscess in a patient with septicaemia

Introduction. Spinal epidural abscess is a rare entity requiring early diagnosis and treatment. Sepsis is a factor with an unfavourable prognosis. Case report. We report the case of a 57-year-old female with acute low back pain who was admitted to hospital suffering from a state of septic shock and multiple organ failure secondary to an infection disseminated by Staphylococcus aureus, which was treated early on with vancomycin. The probable source of infection was assumed to be necrotizing fasciitis of the left arm. Once the acute phase had been overcome, serious paraparesis became apparent and this led to magnetic resonance imaging of the spine being carried out, the results of which showed the existence of a lumbar spondylodiscitis with associated epidural abscess. Conclusion. In patients with sepsis and some previous symptom that arouses suspicion, it is important to consider this possible diagnosis, since treatment with antibiotics alone does not manage to prevent neurological complications in all cases. [REVNEUROL 2003; 36:1152-5].