Helicobacter cinaedi-associated vertebral osteomyelitis in an immunocompetent patient

Abstract

A 56-year-old previously healthy man was hospitalized due to a 10-day history of neck pain and an elevated C-reactive protein level. Gram-negative spiral bacilli were isolated from his blood, and Helicobacter cinaedi was confirmed using 16S rRNA sequencing. The infectious focus was not identified by initial cervical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, repeated MRI demonstrated prominent high signal intensity in the entire region of the C6-C7 vertebrae and C6/C7 disc space. Furthermore, fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography showed no significant uptake, other than in the C6-C7 region. The patient was successfully treated with ceftriaxone for six weeks without sequelae.