Spondylodiscitis due to Parvimonas micra diagnosed by the melting temperature mapping method: A case report

Yoshitsugu Higashi, Shigeki Nakamura, Hideki Niimi, Tomohiro Ueno, Kaoru Matsumoto, Koyomi Kawago, Ippei Sakamaki, Isao Kitajima, Yoshihiro Yamamoto*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

12 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: It has been suggested that more than 100 bacterial species can be identified using only seven universal bacterial primer sets in the melting temperature (Tm) mapping method and that these findings can be obtained within 3h of sterile site collection. Case presentation: A 67-year-old Japanese man with type 2 diabetes visited our hospital complaining of progressive lower back pain for 2months. The patient was suspected to have spondylodiscitis on magnetic resonance imaging of the spine. Blood culture and transcutaneous vertebral biopsy were subsequently performed. Using the Tm mapping method, Parvimonas micra was detected from a transcutaneous vertebral biopsy specimen in 3h. Gram-positive cocci were also detected by Gram staining and P. micra was identified directly from the anaerobic blood culture by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry. Four days after admission, the biopsy specimen culture isolate was identified as P. micra. Conclusions: The Tm mapping method may be useful for the diagnosis of bacterial infections where diagnosis is challenging because of the difficulty of culturing.

Original languageEnglish
Article number584
JournalBMC Infectious Diseases
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017/08/23

Keywords

  • Melting temperature mapping method
  • Parvimonas micra
  • Spondylodiscitis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Infectious Diseases

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