Eikenella corrodens-induced spondylitis. Detection with 16s-RNA polymerase chain reaction

Isolation of the relevant organism in patients with spondylitis even after an open biopsy is successful only in 75-90%. The rare case of an Eikenella corrodens-induced spondylitis is presented, which could only be identified using 16S ribosomal DNA polymerase chain reaction following unsuccessful microbiological cultivation. Eikenella corrodens is a facultative anaerobic gram-negative organism, which is mostly found in the oropharynx of healthy patients.