Intervertebral diskitis caused by Kingella kingae.

A case of childhood intervertebral diskitis caused by Kingella kingae is presented. In a review of the literature, the authors found 33 reported cases of infection caused by species of the Kingella genus, of which 29 were due to K. kingae. Of the 33 cases, 42% represented bacterial endocarditis and 48% bone and joint infection. Of the 16 bone and joint infections, 11 represented septic arthritis, 3 osteomyelitis, and 2 intervertebral diskitis, the latter finding making the authors' case of K. kingae intervertebral diskitis the third to be reported. A review of the bacteriologic findings in cases of childhood intervertebral diskitis indicates a prominent role for fastidious microorganisms and the need for careful attention to specimen procurement and microbiologic processing.