Infections of the spine

Spondylodiscitis, tuberculosis and peri-operative infections are different sub-groups of the same problem that require specific attention. There are patient-related and case- specific risk factors for a spine infection that although well-documented and significant are unfortunately not generally recognized. In each pathological presentation of the disease the relevance of aetiology, epidemiology, diagnostic tools, as well as treatment modalities has to be well-established clarifying the existing differences between them. The costs of treatment and its failure have to be evaluated considering that we simply need to keep treating our patients. We must emphasise that a spinal infection is usually a treatable condition depending on the patient’s immunological defences, the aggressiveness of the infecting agent, elapsed time to diagnosis, or the efficacy of the chosen treatment.