Johnson Memorial Health Services Chief of Staff, Dr. Ayaz Virji, recently published an article in Case Reports in Infectious Diseases, a peer-reviewed international medical journal. Dr. Virji along with co-authors Dr. Lucio Minces and Zargham Abbass document the fourth known case published in the English language of Enterococcus Faecalis spinal infection following prostate biopsy.
In this particular case Dr. Virji collaborated with Dr. Minces, an Infectious Disease Specialist from ACMC. They discovered the patient had developed a rare spinal infection causing his severe back pain. The diagnosis and corresponding treatment led to a successful recovery and outcome for the patient.
Dr. Lucio Minces
Infectious Disease
Dr. Virji said, “We felt it was important to share our findings given the rarity of this condition.” The spinal infection known as vertebral osteomyelitis can occur up to one month after prostate biopsy. Early diagnosis is essential for treatment and improving recovery.
As noted in the article, such infectious complications are on the rise and may be due (in part) to patterns of antimicrobial resistance stemming from the overuse of antibiotics. Dr. Minces became an outreach telemedicine provider at JMHS this summer. He recently presented on the dangers of misuse/overuse of antibiotics on Thursday, November 19 in the DBHS School Commons.
Dr. Virji’s article can be found at www.hindawi.com/journals/criid/2015/159387/. For more information please contact Cori Bothun, Clinic Manager at 320-769-4323.