Anterior Cervical Abscess Following Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion Caused by <i>Moraxella catarrhalis</i>: A Case Report and Focused Literature Review

Journal article

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is widely performed and has a low incidence of postoperative infection. Anterior cervical abscess is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication, typically caused by skin or oral flora. Identification of atypical pathogens has important implications for diagnostic vigilance and antimicrobial management. Case Presentation: We report a 56-year-old man with degenerative cervical myelopathy and significant respiratory comorbidity who underwent single-level ACDF and developed progressive dysphagia and neck pain in the early postoperative period. Imaging demonstrated a prevertebral abscess requiring urgent surgical drainage. Intraoperative cultures identified Moraxella catarrhalis, a respiratory tract commensal rarely implicated in postoperative spinal infections. No evidence of esophageal perforation or superficial wound contamination was identified. The patient was treated with surgical washout and prolonged culture-directed antibiotic therapy, with full clinical recovery. To contextualize novelty, we performed a focused review of the available literature on M. catarrhalis spinal infections. Conclusions: This case expands the spectrum of pathogens implicated in postoperative cervical spine infections and highlights the need to consider respiratory tract organisms in high-risk patients, particularly those with chronic pulmonary disease or immunosuppression. Early imaging in the presence of dysphagia, prompt source control, and culture-directed antimicrobial therapy are essential to optimizing outcomes.

Authors: Hall, HM; Bettsworth, F; Haq, I; Ganau, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: MDPI
• Journal: Journal of Clinical Medicine
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 897
• Publication date: 2026-01-22
• Acceptance date: 2026-01-20
• DOI: 10.3390/jcm15020897
• EISSN: 2077-0383
• ISSN: 2077-0383
• Pmid: 41598835
• Language: English
• Keywords: Spinal Surgery Infection; Dcm; Prevertebral Abscess; Cervical Myelopathy; Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion (Acdf); Deep Surgical Site Infection; Moraxella catarrhalis; Anterior Cervical Abscess