Staphylococcus aureus is the most commonly isolated
pathogen in discitis complicating invasive spinal procedures
(17e33%), followed by coagulase-negative staphylococci
(13e29%), Gram-negative bacilli including Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (9e27%),
streptococci (2e6%) and anaerobes, such as Propionibacterium
acnes and Peptostreptococcus.1e3,9,11 Coagulase-negative
staphylococci are more likely to be found in cases
presenting more than one month after surgery.3
Streptococci are frequently seen in association with
a dental port of entry or endocarditis.3 Less commonly
staphylococci may be implicated in the context of
endocarditis.