A spinal epidural abscess is an uncommon infection that is more likely to occur in a patient with one or more risk factors.
Risk factors:
(1) diabetes mellitus
(2) alcoholism
(3) HIV infection
(4) degenerative joint disease involving the spine
(5) spinal trauma
(6) intravenous (IV) drug injection
(7) placement of a spinal catheter or stimulator
(8) epidural analgesia or nerve block
(9) osteomyelitis
(10) urinary tract infection
(11) sepsis
(12) active skin or soft tissue infection (especially due to Staphylococcus aureus)
(13) infected decubitus
(14) being tattooed
(15) nerve acupuncture
(16) spinal surgery
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Specialty: Infectious Diseases
