A case of an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm caused by infectious spondylitis

An 82-year-old female was admitted with a diagnosis of infectious spondylitis. The culturing of vertebral body biopsy specimens yielded a non-tuberculous acid-fast bacterium (Mycobacterium intracellulare). CT disclosed a saccular mass in the abdominal aorta in contact with the collapsed vertebral bodies (L2-3), and a diagnosis of infected abdominal aortic aneurysm was made. Axillofemoral bypass, resection of the infected abdominal aortic aneurysm, vertebrectomy (L2-3) and reconstruction with a fibular graft, and packing with the greater omentum were performed. An acid fast bacterium was detected from the thrombus in the aneurysm. The clinical course suggested that this patient developed an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm due to Mycobacterium intracellulare transmitted from infectious spondylitis.