VERTEBRAL OSTEOMYELITIS DUE TO PSEUDALLESCHERIA-BOYDII

A case of primary vertebral osteomyelitis due to an opportunistic fung us, Pseudallescheria boydii, in a child with acute myeloid leukemia, i s reported. To our knowledge this is the first such case in a child, a nd only the second reported case in the international literature of pr imary spinal osteomyelitis due to this organism. We discuss the proble ms presented by this case both in terms of diagnosis and management. W e also discuss the role of surgery and systemic antifungal chemotherap y in the treatment of deep infections due to Pseudallescheria boydii.