Abstract

AbstractA patient with Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia treated with gentamicin subsequently developd thoracovertebral osteomyelitis over the area of a preexisting compression fracture. Increasing back pain and progressive destruction with sclerosis of the involved vertebrae led to a needle biopspy examination of the vertebrae which showed evidence of chronic osteomyelitis and grew P aeruginosa on culture. P aeruginosa bacteriamia was documneted six months before the demonstration of the organism in the vertebrae. Treatment with a combinatio of gentamicin and carbenicillin coupled with bed rest cured the vertebral osteomyelitis.