Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39589654›Full record

ReviewEuropean journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology2025

Current knowledge of vertebral osteomyelitis: a review.

Xuanying Zou, Xiaoyan Li, Kang He, Qiang Song, Ruofeng Yin

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
19citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

19 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Role of poor oral hygiene in the etiology of pyogenic spondylitis.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Article
  6. Development and validation of a nomogram for differential diagnosis of pyogenic spondylitis and tuberculous spondylitis in China: a multicenter retrospective study.European spine journal : official publication of the European Spine Society, the European Spinal Deformity Society, and the European Section of the Cervical Spine Research Society · 2026
    Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. Spinal infections.Frontiers in neuroscience · 2026
    Review
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Observational
  17. Article
  18. Review
  19. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Xuanying ZouDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Jilin, 130033, China.
Xiaoyan LiInfection Control Department, Hospital of Stomatology, Jilin University, Jilin, 130033, China.
Kang HeRehabilitation Medicine Center and Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Qiang SongDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Jilin, 130033, China.
Ruofeng YinDepartment of Orthopedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Jilin, 130033, China. yrf_wind@jlu.edu.cn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeAs life expectancy increases worldwide, the elderly population in every country is growing in both the size and proportion. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the microbiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic strategies, and therapeutic approaches to vertebral osteomyelitis, summarizing the latest evidence to guide effective treatment.

methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted using the Medline and Embase databases to identify relevant studies on vertebral osteomyelitis. The search included the following keywords: "vertebral osteomyelitis," "spinal infection," "discitis," "spondylitis," " spondylodiscitis," and "spinal epidural abscess." Both retrospective and prospective studies, case series, and reviews were considered.

resultsThis condition is commonly caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus or gram-negative bacilli, but can also be caused by other pathogens like fungi and parasites. The onset of vertebral osteomyelitis is insidious, with low specificity in clinical manifestations, often making early diagnosis difficult. Delayed or inadequate treatment may lead to sepsis, permanent neurological damage, or even death. Treatment strategies emphasize the importance of identifying the causative pathogen to guide effective antimicrobial therapy. Current consensus does not advocate for empirical antibiotic treatment unless patients exhibit signs of neurological impairment or severe sepsis. Severe cases involving neurological paralysis, spinal instability, or sepsis may require surgical intervention.

conclusionVertebral osteomyelitis requires prompt diagnosis and treatment for a good prognosis. Delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to permanent neurological deficits or death. Identifying the causative organism is crucial for guiding appropriate antimicrobial therapy. In addition to conservative and surgical treatments, local drug delivery systems offer new approaches to managing spinal osteomyelitis.

Indexed as

OsteomyelitisSpinal DiseasesSpineAnti-Bacterial AgentsDiscitisHumansAnti-Bacterial AgentsDiscitisSpinal epidural abscessSpinal infectionsSpondylitisSpondylodiscitisVertebral osteomyelitis

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.