Surgery combined with antibiotics for thoracic vertebral Escherichia coli infection after acupuncture: A case report

Table 1 Patient’s routine blood work

Blood project	Measured value
White blood cells (× 109/L)	9.94
Red blood cells (× 1012/L)	4.40
Blood platelets (× 109/L)	235.00
Hemoglobin (g/L)	131.00
Percentage of neutrophils (%)	75.60
Neutrophil absolute value (× 109/L)	7.50
C-reactive protein (mg/L)	19.18
Blood sedimentation (mm/h)	45.00
Glycated hemoglobin (%)	6.70
Alpha-fetoprotein (ng/mL)	2.28
Carcinoembryonic antigen (ng/mL)	3.58
CA199 (U/mL)	13.68
Ferrous protein (ng/mL)	290.20
Prostate specific antigen ratio (i)	0.10
Total prostate-specific antigen (ng/mL)	17.20
Free prostate-specific antigen (ng/mL)	1.678
Antinuclear antibody (AU/mL)	< 4.00
Anti-cardiolipin antibody (AU/mL)	26.90
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (U/mL)	< 0.50

Table 2 Literature related to vertebra and infections caused by acupuncture

Ref.	Country	Causes of infection	Site of infection	Bacterial species	Treatment method	Duration of treatment	Prognosis
Xiao et al[7], 2022	China	Acupuncture for the waist	Lumbar spine and lungs	Burkholderia pseudomallei	Abscess debridement and antibiotics	-	The bacteria was found again in a urine test 5 mo after discharge from the hospital
Alexandre et al[8], 2018	Portugal	Acupuncture for the waist	The left facet joint between L4 and L5 vertebrae and epidural abscess from T12 to S1 vertebral level	Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus	Percutaneous drainage of the abscesses and antibiotics	8 wk	Full recovery, no recurrence
Yao et al[9], 2016	China	Acupuncture for neck and shoulder	An epidural abscess at C4 to T2	Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus	Antibiotics	6 wk	Infection was controlled, but the patient had decreased muscle strength in the lower extremities
Robinson et al[10], 2015	Australia	Acupuncture for cervical spondylosis	Atlantoaxial septic arthritis	Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus	Antibiotics	6 wk	Effective control of infection and chronic neck pain
He et al[11], 2015	China	Acupuncture for the waist	Lumbar spine and intervertebral disc	Group C Streptococcus	Percutaneous lumbar discectomy, external drainage, irrigation using antibiotics, and postoperative antibiotic therapy	-	Infection control and pain relief
Chiang et al[12], 2014	Singapore	Acupuncture for the waist	T12 and urinary system	Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus	Antibiotics	6 wk	-
Lee et al[13], 2012	Korea	Acupuncture at the back of the neck	Epidural abscess at C1-3 level	-	Antibiotics	-	Abscess subsides
Bang et al[14], 2006	Korea	Acupuncture for the waist	Abscesses of bilateral psoas muscles and spondylitis with epidural abscess	Escherichia coli	Antibiotics	-	Infection controlled, but no recovery of neurological symptoms
Daivajna et al[15], 2004	United Kingdom	Acupuncture for the lumbosacral	The right L5/S1 facet joint	Staphylococcus aureus	Antibiotic treatment and surgical debridement	-	Symptoms disappeared, and infection was controlled