A hepatic abscess complicated with spinal infection and a psoas abscess: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Background: Dissemination of bacteria from a Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess through the bloodstream can occur, with the rare clinical occurrence of concurrent multilevel spinal epidural infection and a psoas abscess, which pose a high risk of disability. This report describes a case of complicated spinal infection secondary to a liver abscess.

Case presentation: A 65-year-old male patient with type 2 diabetes and a history of K. pneumoniae liver abscess subsequently developed multilevel epidural infection, discitis, osteomyelitis, and psoas abscess, with the pathogen being a subspecies of K. pneumoniae. The patient underwent multiple staged surgical debridements and received combined repeated vacuum sealing drainage (negative-pressure wound therapy). In the neurological function assessments, the patient was admitted as American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) C, the lowest grade, and discharged as ASIA E. At the latest follow-up, the patient had good infection control, could walk short distances with a thoracolumbosacral orthosis, and had no recurrence of infection.

Conclusion: In diabetic patients with a K. pneumoniae liver abscess, clinicians should be vigilant for hematogenous spinal infections. For critically ill patients with extensive multilevel spinal infections, staged debridement combined with negative-pressure wound therapy is a feasible treatment strategy.

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BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{yu2026hepatic,
  title = {{A hepatic abscess complicated with spinal infection and a psoas abscess: a case report and literature review}},
  author = {Xingsheng Yu and Hao Xing and Zhengqi Chang},
  journal = {Frontiers in Medicine},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fmed.2026.1928987},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1928987},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - A hepatic abscess complicated with spinal infection and a psoas abscess: a case report and literature review
AU  - Xingsheng Yu
AU  - Hao Xing
AU  - Zhengqi Chang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/21
JO  - Frontiers in Medicine
DO  - 10.3389/fmed.2026.1928987
UR  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1928987
AB  - Background: Dissemination of bacteria from a Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess through the bloodstream can occur, with the rare clinical occurrence of concurrent multilevel spinal epidural infection and a psoas abscess, which pose a high risk of disability. This report describes a case of complicated spinal infection secondary to a liver abscess.  Case presentation: A 65-year-old male patient with type 2 diabetes and a history of K. pneumoniae liver abscess subsequently developed multilevel epidural infection, discitis, osteomyelitis, and psoas abscess, with the pathogen being a subspecies of K. pneumoniae. The patient underwent multiple staged surgical debridements and received combined repeated vacuum sealing drainage (negative-pressure wound therapy). In the neurological function assessments, the patient was admitted as American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) C, the lowest grade, and discharged as ASIA E. At the latest follow-up, the patient had good infection control, could walk short distances with a thoracolumbosacral orthosis, and had no recurrence of infection.  Conclusion: In diabetic patients with a K. pneumoniae liver abscess, clinicians should be vigilant for hematogenous spinal infections. For critically ill patients with extensive multilevel spinal infections, staged debridement combined with negative-pressure wound therapy is a feasible treatment strategy.
SN  - 2296-858X
ER  -

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