HAEMOPHILUS-APHROPHILUS AS A RARE CAUSE O F SPONDYLITIS

We report a case of lumbar spondylitis due to Haemophilus aphrophilus in a 36-year-old man with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined signif icance. Haemophilus aphrophilus is a gram-negative capnophilic, slow g rowing coccobacillus, a component of the normal human flora of the oro pharynx. This organism is considered an uncommon human pathogen and ha s been reported in the literature in only 10 cases of bacterial spondy litis. We review the bacteriological and clinical findings, predisposi ng conditions and the previously reported infections caused by Haemoph ilus aphrophilus. The patient responded well to antibiotic treatment w ith ciprofloxacin.