- MTB→ endemic areas and/or compromised
- Cocci or other fungal→ endemic areas and/or compromised
- Trauma to area
- Spinal surgery
- Hardware
- Bacteremia
- Typically acute or subacute
- Progressive pain in thoracic spine area
- Spread can lead to epidural abscess
- Weakness, neuropathic pain, numbness, gait problems, paralysis, incontinence, w/cord or root involvement
- May have pain over thoracic vertebrae to palpation/percussion
- Neuro deficits (e.g. weakness, numbness, neuropathic pain, gait problems, paralysis, incontinence, etc.) if involves cord or roots (at and below level of involvement)