Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (762 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Inflammation of an intervertebral disc or disk space which may lead to disk erosion. Until recently, discitis has been defined as a nonbacterial inflammation and has been attributed to aseptic processes (e.g., chemical reaction to an injected substance). However, recent studies provide evidence that infection may be the initial cause, but perhaps not the promoter, of most cases of discitis. Discitis has been diagnosed in patients following discography, myelography, lumbar puncture, paravertebral injection, and obstetrical epidural anesthesia. Discitis following chemonucleolysis (especially with chymopapain) is attributed to chemical reaction by some and to introduction of microorganisms by others.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Discitides; Spondylodiscitis; Spondylodiscitides; Diskitis; Diskitides; Spondylodiskitis; Spondylodiskitides.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Spondylitis
Related concepts
- Intervertebral Disc
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 2,636 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Discitis” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 543 of them (20.6%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is 2010-2019 with 886 records.
Reviews account for 362 records (13.7%) and meta-analyses for 14. Randomized controlled trials number 7 (0.3%) as a share of all records on the topic. Randomized trials make up only a small share of this literature, so much of what is known comes from laboratory, observational or descriptive work.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 513 |
| 2000-2009 | 694 |
| 2010-2019 | 886 |
| 2020 onward | 543 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 362 | 13.7% |
| Meta-analyses | 14 | 0.5% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 7 | 0.3% |
Method: PubMed query "Discitis"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in infectious diseases
Infectious disease evidence combines microbiology, epidemiology and clinical trials. Laboratory studies identify pathogens and how they cause harm; surveillance and outbreak investigations describe who is affected and how infection spreads; trials establish whether treatments and vaccines work. Results depend on place and time, because pathogens evolve and resistance patterns and population immunity change. Check when and where the data were collected, how cases were defined and how up to date the evidence is.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
| Study / authors | Year | Source label / design | Europe PMC citations | Licence / source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A comparison of the diagnostic value of MRI and 18F-FDG-PET/CT in suspected spondylodiscitis | 2017 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 84 | cc by PMID 27317050 · DOI · PMC5306365 |
| Early surgery with antibiotics treatment had better clinical outcomes than antibiotics treatment alone in patients with pyogenic spondylodiscitis: a retrospective cohort study | 2017 | Research article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 73 | cc by PMID 28449655 · DOI · PMC5408454 |
| Infectious Discitis and Spondylodiscitis in Children | 2016 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 60 | cc by PMID 27070599 · DOI · PMC4848995 |
| From Culture to Sequencing: Evolving Strategies for the Diagnosis of Pediatric Spondylodiscitis | 2026 | Review article Design not recorded in structured metadata | 0 | cc by PMID 41841243 · DOI · PMC13056497 |
A comparison of the diagnostic value of MRI and 18F-FDG-PET/CT in suspected spondylodiscitis [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing spondylodiscitis and its complications, such as epidural and paraspinal abscesses.
- Closing excerpt
- After 2 weeks both techniques perform similarly.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (193 words)
PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosing spondylodiscitis and its complications, such as epidural and paraspinal abscesses.MethodsFrom January 2006 to August 2013 patients with a clinical suspicion of spondylodiscitis, with an infection, or with fever of unknown origin were retrospectively included if 18F-FDG-PET/CT and MRI of the spine were performed within a 2-week time span. Imaging results were compared to the final clinical diagnosis and follow-up data were collected.ResultsSixty-eight patients were included of whom 49 patients were diagnosed with spondylodiscitis. MRI showed an overall sensitivity of 67 % and specificity of 84 %. Diagnostic accuracy was 58 %, when MRI was performed within 2 weeks after the start of symptoms and improved to 82 %, when performed more than 2 weeks after onset of symptoms. 18F-FDG-PET/CT showed a sensitivity of 96 % and a specificity of 95 %, with no relation to the interval between the scan and the start of symptoms.ConclusionsAs compared to MRI, 18F-FDG-PET/CT has superior diagnostic value for detecting early spondylodiscitis. After 2 weeks both techniques perform similarly.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 27317050 · DOI · PMC5306365
Early surgery with antibiotics treatment had better clinical outcomes than antibiotics treatment alone in patients with pyogenic spondylodiscitis: a retrospective cohort study [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- BackgroundPyogenic spondylodiscitis is a form of spinal infection that can result in severe back pain and even death.
- Closing excerpt
- In short, early surgical treatment of pyogenic spondylodiscitis typically achieves a better prognosis, shorter hospitalization period, and subsequent significant improvement in kyphotic deformity and quality of life.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (253 words)
BackgroundPyogenic spondylodiscitis is a form of spinal infection that can result in severe back pain and even death. However, information is lacking on the relative effectiveness of various therapies. A retrospective chart review was conducted to investigate whether early surgical treatment of pyogenic spondylodiscitis coupled with intravenous antibiotics results in better patient prognoses than intravenous antibiotics therapy alone.MethodsAll patients treated for pyogenic spondylodiscitis at a single medical center from July 2006 to July 2011 were retrospectively reviewed. The inclusion criteria consisted of diagnosis of an early stage infection without neurological deficit, and patients without severe sepsis who were suitable candidates for early surgery as determined by a Pittsburgh bacteremia score ResultsOf 90 enrolled patients, Group 1 (n = 47) received only antibiotic therapy and Group 2 (n = 43) received early surgery with post-surgery antibiotics for 2 to 4 weeks. Group 2 exhibited significantly better results than Group 1 for mean antibiotic administration period, mean hospitalization period, kyphotic angle correction. Of 61 patients who participated in telephone follow-up after discharge, Group 2 (n = 26) had significant lower mean ODI score, and mean back pain score than Group 1 (n = 35).ConclusionsWhile infection control was similar for both groups, patients treated with early surgery and antibiotics were hospitalized for fewer days and required less antibiotics than those treated with antibiotics alone, also having better functional outcomes. In short, early surgical treatment of pyogenic spondylodiscitis typically achieves a better prognosis, shorter hospitalization period, and subsequent significant improvement in kyphotic deformity and quality of life.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 28449655 · DOI · PMC5408454
Infectious Discitis and Spondylodiscitis in Children [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- In children, infectious discitis (D) and infectious spondylodiscitis (SD) are rare diseases that can cause significant clinical problems, including spinal deformities and segmental instabilities.
- Closing excerpt
- , the appropriate choice of drug is critical to achieve cure.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (150 words)
In children, infectious discitis (D) and infectious spondylodiscitis (SD) are rare diseases that can cause significant clinical problems, including spinal deformities and segmental instabilities. Moreover, when the infection spreads into the spinal channel, D and SD can cause devastating neurologic complications. Early diagnosis and treatment may reduce these risks. The main aim of this paper is to discuss recent concepts regarding the epidemiology, microbiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric D and SD. It is highlighted that particular attention must be paid to the identification of the causative infectious agent and its sensitivity to antibiotics, remembering that traditional culture frequently leads to negative results and modern molecular methods can significantly increase the detection rate. Several different bacterial pathogens can cause D and SD, and, in some cases, particularly those due to Staphylococcus aureus, Kingella kingae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Brucella spp., the appropriate choice of drug is critical to achieve cure.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 27070599 · DOI · PMC4848995
From Culture to Sequencing: Evolving Strategies for the Diagnosis of Pediatric Spondylodiscitis [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- Pediatric spondylodiscitis is a rare but clinically significant infection affecting the intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebral bodies.
- Closing excerpt
- This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on pediatric spondylodiscitis, outlining its epidemiology, clinical features, and the evolving spectrum of diagnostic strategies-from conventional methods to advanced molecular and sequencing-based technologies-while discussing future directions in this challenging field.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (166 words)
Pediatric spondylodiscitis is a rare but clinically significant infection affecting the intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebral bodies. Diagnostic delays are common due to its nonspecific presentation and the limited sensitivity of conventional microbiological methods. Early and accurate pathogen identification is essential to guide antimicrobial therapy, minimize unnecessary invasive procedures, and prevent long-term sequelae. Traditional diagnostic tools-including laboratory tests, imaging, blood cultures, biopsy, and histopathological evaluation-remain fundamental but are often insufficient, as they may yield nonspecific results or culture-negative cases, particularly after prior antibiotic exposure or infection with fastidious organisms. In recent years, molecular approaches, ranging from polymerase chain reaction assays to metagenomic next-generation sequencing, have markedly improved diagnostic accuracy. These techniques allow rapid and comprehensive pathogen detection, including atypical or previously uncultivable organisms, thereby overcoming many limitations of conventional methods. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on pediatric spondylodiscitis, outlining its epidemiology, clinical features, and the evolving spectrum of diagnostic strategies-from conventional methods to advanced molecular and sequencing-based technologies-while discussing future directions in this challenging field.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41841243 · DOI · PMC13056497
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Spondylodiscitis: update on diagnosis and management [5]
- Research article Infectious spondylodiscitis [6]
- Research article Outcome of conservative and surgical treatment of pyogenic spondylodiscitis: a systematic literature review [7]
- Research article Surgical treatment of spondylodiscitis. An update [8]
- Research article Treatment of spondylodiscitis [9]
- Research article Pyogenic spondylodiscitis: an overview [10]
References
- Smids C, Kouijzer IJ, Vos FJ, Sprong T, Hosman AJ, de Rooy JW, et al.. A comparison of the diagnostic value of MRI and 18F-FDG-PET/CT in suspected spondylodiscitis. . 2017. PMID 27317050 · DOI · PMC5306365
- Tsai TT, Yang SC, Niu CC, Lai PL, Lee MH, Chen LH, et al.. Early surgery with antibiotics treatment had better clinical outcomes than antibiotics treatment alone in patients with pyogenic spondylodiscitis: a retrospective cohort study. . 2017. PMID 28449655 · DOI · PMC5408454
- Principi N, Esposito S. Infectious Discitis and Spondylodiscitis in Children. . 2016. PMID 27070599 · DOI · PMC4848995
- Sbampato V, Khan AA, Tsoupras A, De Marco G, Ceroni D. From Culture to Sequencing: Evolving Strategies for the Diagnosis of Pediatric Spondylodiscitis. . 2026. PMID 41841243 · DOI · PMC13056497
- Gouliouris T, Aliyu SH, Brown NM. Spondylodiscitis: update on diagnosis and management. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2010. PMID 20876624 · DOI
- Cottle L, Riordan T. Infectious spondylodiscitis. J Infect. 2008. PMID 18442854 · DOI
- Rutges JP, Kempen DH, van Dijk M, Oner FC. Outcome of conservative and surgical treatment of pyogenic spondylodiscitis: a systematic literature review. Eur Spine J. 2016. PMID 26585975 · DOI
- Guerado E, Cerván AM. Surgical treatment of spondylodiscitis. An update. Int Orthop. 2012. PMID 22215365 · DOI · PMC3282859
- Zarghooni K, Röllinghoff M, Sobottke R, Eysel P. Treatment of spondylodiscitis. Int Orthop. 2012. PMID 22143315 · DOI · PMC3282845
- Skaf GS, Domloj NT, Fehlings MG, Bouclaous CH, Sabbagh AS, Kanafani ZA, et al.. Pyogenic spondylodiscitis: an overview. J Infect Public Health. 2010. PMID 20701886 · DOI
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.