Brucellar spinal epidural abscess

Spinal epidural abscesses account for approximately one of every 10,000 adm issions to tertiary hospitals. The midthoracic vertebrae are the most frequ ently affected, whilst the cervical spine is involved in fewer patients. St aphylococcus aureus is identified as the cause in most eases of epidural ab scess; other bacteria responsible include Gram-negative bacteria, Streptoco ccus species and Brucella species. We report the case of a patient with cer vical spondylodiscitis at level C4-C5 and an epidural abscess which was com pressing the spinal cord and the retropharyngeal space. The previous sympto ms of brucellosis were atypical. We discuss the clinical manifestations, di agnosis, treatment and prognosis of the case. fur I Neurol 6:87-89 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.