Infectious spondylodiscitis due to psoas abscesses secondary to Burkholderia cepacia infection

Abstract

Context: Infection by the Burkholderia cepacia complex is a clinical entity rarely reported in the literature outside the context of pneumonia in patients with cystic fibrosis or chronic granulomatosis; its appearance in soft tissues or the articular system is scarce.

Case description: We report the case of a 59-year-old man with diabetes mellitus 2 who was admitted with chronic low back pain secondary to multiple bilateral abscesses at the level of the psoas muscles associated with spondylodiscitis. After draining the abscesses, Burkholderia cepacia was isolated in culture.

Conclusions: This is the second report of deep posed abscess associated with infection by bacteria of the genus Burkholderia cepacia. The extrapulmonary and specifically musculoskeletal behavior is a fact to consider within the spectrum of clinical manifestations associated with this disease.

Key words: psoas abscess, Burkholderia cepacia, spondylodiscitis