An immunocompetent 46-year-old male presented with chronic back pain, radiating to the lower limbs, and progressive weakness, ultimately leading to paraplegia. Imaging revealed a spinal epidural abscess and discitis at L4-L5. Surgical decompression and debridement were performed. Cultures from the abscess and disc material identified *Leclercia adecarboxylata*, a rare opportunistic pathogen, via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The patient received meropenem and ciprofloxacin, showing neurological improvement. This case highlights the importance of considering uncommon pathogens even in immunocompetent individuals with spinal infections.
Key note: *Leclercia adecarboxylata* can cause severe spinal infections in immunocompetent patients, necessitating accurate identification and appropriate antibiotic therapy.