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Life sciences · Journal article
Annals of Medicine · October 21, 2026
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Objectives. Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (PVO) is a severe infection with increasing incidence. We aimed to describe long-term population-based temporal trends in incidence, clinical presentation, diagnostic approaches, microbiology, and outcomes.Materials and methods. We conducted a retrospective population-based cohort study including 1,017 adults with multidisciplinary team-verified PVO diagnosed at a tertiary infectious diseases referral centre in the Region of Southern Denmark between 2009 and 2022. Incidence rates (IRs) per 100,000 person-years (PY) were calculated using regional population data and compared across three calendar periods (2009-2013, 2014-2018, 2019-2022). Temporal changes in clinical characteristics, microbiology, diagnostic strategies, and outcomes were assessed.Results. In total, 1,017 patients were included. The crude IR increased from 4.7 per 100,000 PY in 2009-2013 to 11.0 in 2019-2022, with the largest increase among patients aged ≥70 years. Mean age and comorbidity burden rose over time. Pain was common, fever was often absent, and neurological deficits occurred in 33.5% (n = 341). Postsurgical infection was the most frequent primary focus, and concomitant endocarditis occurred in 8.3% (n = 84). A microbiological diagnosis was established in 64.8% (n = 635) of cases, most commonly Staphylococcus aureus. Use of Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography ([18F]FDG-PET/CT) increased over time. Median hospital stay remained 33 days. One-year mortality increased from 9.5% to 18.2%, while relapse declined, resulting in a stable composite risk of death or relapse (20.7%).Conclusions. The incidence of PVO increased markedly from 2009 to 2022, predominantly in older patients with comorbidities. Despite improved diagnostics, microbiologically-negative cases remain frequent. Mortality remained high and increased over time.