A spinal infection, also known as spinal osteomyelitis or discitis, is a bacterial or fungal infection that affects the bones, discs, or surrounding tissues of the spine. It can occur as a result of an infection spreading from another part of the body, such as the bloodstream, or from direct contamination during spinal surgery or trauma.
Those diagnosed with a spinal infection might experience fatigue and malaise, difficulty with bowel or bladder function, neurological problems, fever, swelling and tenderness, and localized pain.