Protocol for an Analytical Study With Microbiological, Phenotypic, Genotypic and Multiomics Techniques

Cutibacterium Acnes Colonization on Intervertebral Discs of Patients With Low Back Pain: Protocol for an Analytical Study With Microbiological, Phenotypic, Genotypic and Multiomics Techniques

The study aims to identify metabolites present in intervertebral discs colonized by C. acnes from patients with low back pain and degenerative disc disease, correlating them with their clinical, radiological and demographic profiles.

Inclusion Criteria:

• low back pain lasting longer than 3 months;
• MRI findings of degenerative lumbar discopathy (DDL) performed less than 6 months after inclusion in the study;
• indication for open surgical treatment, with isolated microdiscectomy or associated with lumbar arthrodesis;
• failure of conservative treatment for at least 6 weeks and/or progressive neurological deficit

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of open lumbar spine surgery at any stage of life;
• presence of chemotherapy or pulse therapy with corticoids;
• patients with immune deficiency;
• patients undergoing previous intradiscal therapies (nucleotomy or discography);
• patients undergoing previous endoscopic surgery;
• patients with a history of previous spinal infection treated with antibiotics in the 6 months prior to inclusion in the study;
• use of antibiotics in the 2 months prior to the surgical procedure