Clinical and demographic characteristics of spondylodiscitis in a Mexican population: A retrospective study

• Spondylodiscitis is a complex disease whose diagnosis and management are still challenging. • The pyogenic spondylodiscitis can be classified as a primary or secondary infection. • The microbiological spectrum is very broad, it can be classified etiologically as pyogenic, granulomatous and parasitic. • The identification of a causative pathogen is essential to guide the treatment. • Aseptic spondylodiscitis is less common. The aim of this study was to identify the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with a confirmed diagnosis of spondylodiscitis through microbiological cultures. A descriptive, observational, and retrospective study was conducted. Patients were included based on clinical and radiological evidence of vertebral infection, unspecified discitis, and/or positive microbiological cultures consistent with spondylodiscitis. For the comparison between men and women, the Student's t -test and odds ratio were employed. The Chi-square test was used to examine correlations between affected spinal levels, isolated microorganisms, and associated comorbidities. A total of 86 cases of discitis were identified, 65% of which involved male patients. The mean age was 59.0 ± 11.5 years (range: 38–83), and the average body mass index (BMI) was 28 ± 4.05 kg/m 2 . Primary discitis predominated in 68% of cases, mainly at the thoracic level. Seventeen patients presented with spondylodiscitis not associated with chronic degenerative diseases. The most frequently isolated microorganisms were Staphylococcus aureus (28 cases) and Escherichia coli (21 cases). In 16 cases, intracellular pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Brucella spp. were identified, leading to an average hospital stay of 30 days. Spondylodiscitis is a serious complication, and this study highlights differences from previously published data, particularly in terms of the microorganisms involved and the demographic profile of the population. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar las características clínicas y demográficas de los pacientes con diagnóstico confirmado de espondilodiscitis por cultivo microbiológico. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, observacional y retrospectivo. Se incluyeron pacientes con evidencia clínica y radiológica de infección vertebral, discitis no especificada o cultivos microbiológicos positivos compatibles con espondilodiscitis. Para la comparación entre varones y mujeres, se empleó la prueba t de Student y la odds ratio . Se utilizó la prueba de chi cuadrado para examinar correlaciones entre niveles espinales afectados, microorganismos aislados y comorbilidades asociadas. Se identificaron 86 casos de discitis, el 65% en varones. La media de la edad de los afectados fue de 59 ± 11,5 años (rango: 38-83 años) y el índice de masa corporal promedio fue de 28 ± 4,05 kg/m 2 . La discitis primaria predominó en el 68% de los casos, principalmente en la zona torácica. Diecisiete pacientes presentaron espondilodiscitis sin asociación con enfermedades degenerativas crónicas. Los microorganismos más frecuentemente aislados fueron Staphylococcus aureus (28 casos) y Escherichia coli (21 casos). En 16 casos se identificaron patógenos intracelulares como Mycobacterium tuberculosis y Brucella spp., lo que provocó una estancia hospitalaria media de 30 días. La espondilodiscitis es una complicación grave y este estudio destaca las diferencias con los datos publicados anteriormente, en particular, en cuanto a los microorganismos implicados y el perfil demográfico de la población.