The spine is a very sensitive area and spinal infections usually don’t get the timely diagnosis as they are initially put off as pain management issues. When I was trying to figure out what is Spinal Infection and its diagnosis I just found it in a blog BackPain-Reasons-diagnosis saying that the infection generally spread to the vertebral discs in the spine and it weakens the discs(osteomyelitis), bone crumbling etc. Laboratory evaluation such as the ESR and the CRP will throw up evidence of infection MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) with gadolinium dye is a better option in confirming the diagnosis. Further diagnosis or for enhancing treatment, a computer tomography is being used.
Back Pain Reasons and their Structural Diagnosis.