Question
Hi
My Father is 64, obese, diabetic with hypertension and arthritis.  He was admitted to hospital with infective discitis.  The infection is staph. aureus and he has been on IV antibiotics since just before Christmas. The infection has gone down but is still present in his blood.  Is it safe for my 5 year old son to go on visiting?  Can you please tell me if it's contagious at all?
Many THanks, Nicola

Answer
.
Dear Nicola,

Infectious discitis is a disease in which bacteria infect the spinal disc space. The origin of the bacteria is usually the blood stream. The infective agent (staphylococcus  aureus in this and in most cases) enters the blood through a skin wound usually, and flows with the blood until it reaches the small blood vessels between the disc edge and the vertebra, where it can colonize and cause a disc infection. From this site the bacteria may also return to the blood stream and infect another site within the same person's body (such as the heart valves for example).  There is no possibility for the infecting agent to spread from one person to another without being exposed to the infected blood.
I see no problem in bringing in your son to visit his grandfather if the child is healthy and is not exposed to sights unsuitable for his age. I am sure both of them would benefit immensely from the visit.

Sincerely,

Dr. N. Rahamimov