Division BJ-DISC: Disc space infection

Vertebral disc space infection must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Patient has organisms cultured from vertebral disc space tissue obtained during a surgical operation or needle aspiration

• Patient has evidence of vertebral disc space infection seen during a surgical operation or histopathologic examination

• Patient has fever (> 38 °C) with no other recognized cause or pain at the involved vertebral disc space

  AND radiographic evidence of infection (for example, abnormal findings on X-ray, CT scan, MRI, radiolabel scan (gallium, technetium, etc.)).

• Patient has fever (> 38 °C) with no other recognized cause and pain at the involved vertebral disc space

  AND positive antigen test on blood or urine (for example, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis, or Group B Streptococcus).