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Stanford Health Care

Spinal Infection

What is a bacterial infection of the spine?

Bacterial infections of the spine are rare but can include infection of:

  • The discs (discitis).
  • The spinal cord (usually an infection of the tissue covering the spinal cord, called an epidural abscess).
  • One or more vertebrae (osteomyelitis).
  • The facet joints, which may be the site of infectious arthritis.

Bacteria that infect the spine usually originate in other parts of the body and are carried to the spine through the bloodstream. But bacteria can enter the spine directly during surgery or injection treatments, as the result of injury, or as a result of IV drug use.

INTERESTED IN AN ONLINE SECOND OPINION?

The Stanford Medicine Online Second Opinion program offers you easy access to our world-class doctors. It’s all done remotely, and you don’t have to visit our hospital or one of our clinics for this service. You don’t even need to leave home!

Visit our online second opinion page to learn more.

Clinical Trials for Spinal Infection

Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.

Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.

Open Trials