Case study of spinal epidural abscess in a female patient with a secondary chronic form of brucellosis
Authors:   Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation, Grishaeva A.A. ,   Moscow Clinical Research Center "Kommunarka", Moscow, Russian Federation, Alimova L.K. ,   Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation,   Moscow Clinical Research Center "Kommunarka", Moscow, Russian Federation, Erdneeva N.M. ,   Moscow Clinical Research Center "Kommunarka", Moscow, Russian Federation, Ponezheva Zh.B. ,   Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation, Domkina A.M. ,   Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation,   Moscow Clinical Research Center "Kommunarka", Moscow, Russian Federation, Fedorova O.V. ,   Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation,   Moscow Clinical Research Center "Kommunarka", Moscow, Russian Federation, Maleev V.V. ,   Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: January 2025

Brucellosis is a prevalent zoonotic infection caused by various species of Brucella. This disease typically has a long-term, recurrent course and
can affect numerous organs and systems. The most frequent complication associated with brucellosis involves the musculoskeletal system,
manifesting clinically as arthritis, bursitis, sacroiliitis, spondylitis, and osteomyelitis. A particularly rare complication of brucellar spondylitis
is the development of a spinal epidural abscess. Diagnosing spinal brucellosis etiology presents several challenges. The non-specific nature
of the symptoms, alongside routine laboratory and instrumental study data, coupled with a lack of clinical suspicion, commonly results in
late diagnosis. The treatment tactics for brucellar spinal epidural abscesses remains contentious, necessitating a tailored approach for each
patient. Decisions regarding the antibiotic regimen, treatment duration, and the necessity for surgical intervention should be personalized
based on the patient's overall condition, the extent of spinal damage, and the presence of complications. To illustrate the complexities involved
in managing spinal brucellosis, we present a clinical case involving a spinal epidural abscess in a female patient with secondary chronic
brucellosis. This case underscores the significance of differential diagnosis for spinal lesions of infectious etiology, considering clinical and
epidemiological history data.
KEYWORDS: brucellosis, secondary chronic brucellosis, spinal brucellosis, brucellar spondylitis, brucellar spinal epidural abscess, diagnosis,
magnetic resonance imaging.
FOR CITATION: Grishaeva A.A., Alimova L.K., Erdneeva N.M., Ponezheva Zh.B., Domkina A.M., Fedorova O.V., Maleev V.V. Case study of
spinal epidural abscess in a female patient with a secondary chronic form of brucellosis. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2024;8(11):681–685 (in
Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2024-8-11-12