Q fever vertebral osteomyelitis in the absence of cardiovascular involvement: Two cases and a literature review

Abstract

Chronic Q fever, most commonly manifesting as infective endocarditis or endovascular infection, complicates 1–5% of Coxiella burnetii infections. Vertebral osteomyelitis has been described, occurring mostly in the setting of adjacent vascular involvement. We describe two cases of isolated vertebral osteomyelitis, adding further insight into this rarely reported clinical entity.

Keywords

• Q fever
• Coxiella burnetii
• Vertebral osteomyelitis
• Discitis
• Treatment