Lumbar spine infection caused by candida albicans: A case report

• Rare lumbar spine infection caused by Candida albicans diagnosed via biopsy. • Chronic low back pain as the key symptom of Candida vertebral infection. • Azole antifungal therapy effective; surgical indications remain controversial. Lumbar spine infection caused by Candida albicans is a rare condition in clinical practice that often presents as chronic lower back pain. The combination of imaging and laboratory tests can aid in the accurate diagnosis of this disease. A 75-year-old female patient reported to a physician with complaints of low back pain, numbness, and weakness in both lower extremities for one month. Despite receiving anti-inflammatory analgesia and nerve nutrition treatment, there was no improvement and the patient occasionally developed high fever and chills. After the surgical intervention and anti-infection treatment, the symptoms disappeared and the outcome was satisfactory. Chronic low back pain is a characteristic symptom of lumbar spine infection caused by Candida albicans. Pathological biopsy remains the gold standard for its diagnosis. Conservative treatment using azoles is effective, while surgical management remains controversial.