Division CNS-SA: Spinal abscess without meningitis

An abscess of the spinal epidural or subdural space, without involvement of the cerebrospinal fluid or adjacent bone structures, must meet at least one of the following criteria:

• Patient has organisms cultured from abscess in the spinal epidural or subdural space

• Patient has an abscess in the spinal epidural or subdural space seen during a surgical operation or at autopsy or evidence of an abscess seen during a histopathologic examination

• Patient has at least 1 of the following signs or symptoms with no other recognized cause: fever (> 38 °C), back pain, focal tenderness, radiculitis, paraparesis, or paraplegia

  AND at least 1 of the following:

  • organisms cultured from blood

  • radiographic evidence of a spinal abscess (for example, abnormal findings on myelography, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, or other scans (gallium, technetium, etc.))

  AND if diagnosis is made antemortem, physician institutes appropriate antimicrobial therapy