Vertebral osteomyelitis combined streptococcal viridans endocarditis

Endocarditis may be difficult to diagnose in patients with osteomyelitis in an early stage because they usually are treated for fever, bone pain and stiffness in the outpatient department. Herein we report an uncommon patient who developed severe lower back pain sustained for 2 months, and streptococcal viridans infected vertebral osteomyelitis combined endocarditis were diagnosed and cured. q 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.