Criteria 1: organism isolated from culture of abscess in spinal epidural or subdural space
Criteria 2 - one of the following:
(1) abscess in spinal epidural or subdural space seen during surgery
(2) abscess in spinal epidural or subdural space seen at autopsy
(3) abscess in spinal epidural or subdural space seen on histopathologic examination
Criteria 3 - all of the following:
(1) at least one of the following symptoms:
(1a) fever (> 38° C)
(1b) back pain
(1c) focal tenderness
(1d) radiculitis
(1e) paraparesis
(1f) paraplegia
(2) no other recognized cause for symptoms
(3) physician institutes appropriate antimicrobial therapy if diagnosis is made antemortem
(4) at least one of the following:
(4a) organism isolated from blood culture
(4b) radiographic evidence of spinal abscess
