It is an infection that occurs at the junction of the two pubic bones, caused by a microbe called Streptococcus dysgalactiae , which is part of the normal flora of microbes present on the skin and in the pharynx. It does not usually cause infections, so this condition is very rare. In fact, only 1% of osteomyelitis cases are of this type. Therefore, its diagnosis is complex. Only when the microbe comes into contact with an affected bone, or through a recent injury or wound, can it transmit the infection via the bloodstream.
Government
Salvador Illa has a diagnosis: a bacterium is causing him a "very rare" disease.
The president, who is suffering from osteomyelitis, is improving in mobility and pain and will be released from the ICU this Tuesday.
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BarcelonaThe president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, is suffering from pubic osteomyelitis, a rare bacterial infection. This is the diagnosis reached by the medical team treating him at Vall d'Hebron Hospital in Barcelona, where he remains in the intensive care unit (ICU). The hospital's managing director, Albert Salazar, confirmed this at a press conference on Monday, after the medical team had finished analyzing all the tests performed throughout the morning. Early on, doctors were leaning toward the possibility that Illa was suffering from an inflammatory condition resulting from an infection. In this case, the infection is located at the junction of the two pubic bones and part of the left abdominal muscle where it attaches.
When doctors ruled out more serious conditions, such as vascular and tumorous diseases, the medical team began working with the hypothesis that the pain and weakness in the president's legs was caused by inflammation and an infection. This hypothesis was reinforced when Isla developed a fever on Sunday night. He was given a broad-spectrum antibiotic, and urine and blood samples were taken. This allowed them to narrow down the diagnosis, which was later confirmed by an imaging test. Salazar explained that Isla's progress since Sunday has been positive: "Both the pain and the recovery of mobility have shown a very favorable and positive evolution." The infection was caused by bacteria. Streptococcus dysgalactiae"These are good results and good news," Salazar said about the illness, from which Isla is expected to make a full recovery.
Caused by a common bacteria
Alongside Salazar, Dolors Rodríguez, head of the infectious diseases section at Vall d'Hebron Hospital, and Manel Escobar, clinical director of the diagnostic imaging service at Vall d'Hebron, appeared before the press. Rodríguez detailed the treatment the president will undergo: initially, two weeks of intravenous antibiotics, combined with blood tests to verify the medication's effectiveness against the bacteria, which is naturally present in the body and had entered his bloodstream. It is possible that after this period, the president will be able to complete the treatment orally (at home). In any case, this must be combined with rest and rehabilitation to regain full mobility.
What is pubic osteomyelitis, the rare disease Isla suffers from?
The expectation remains that Isla will remain hospitalized: "Two weeks to know if the clinical evolution is good. Today the patient is better than yesterday," stated Rodríguez, although he clarified that these are "approximate" figures. Escobar emphasized that it is rare to find a case of this type, and expressed his "pride" in the fact that the medical team was able to reach a diagnosis in such a short time. Isla was admitted to Vall d'Hebron on Saturday. He is expected to leave the ICU and be transferred to a regular ward on Tuesday.
The commission to Dalmau
"The president is doing well, in good spirits, and very attentive to the various issues," explained Sílvia Paneque, the Minister of Territory and spokesperson for the Catalan Government, on Monday morning. Speaking to Catalunya Ràdio, Paneque confirmed that Isla is responding to messages and keeping abreast of current events. The Minister of the Presidency, Albert Dalmau, will assume the president's duties by delegation while Isla is hospitalized. The various ministers will also divide the tasks according to their respective areas of expertise, Paneque explained. This Monday, Official Gazette of the Government of Catalonia The Official Gazette of the Generalitat of Catalonia (DOGC) has published the decree assigning the duties of the presidency to Dalmau on a temporary basis, "from January 19, 2026, until the reason for the absence ceases." Salvador Illa was admitted to Vall d'Hebron Hospital on Saturday due to muscle weakness in his legs. The president began experiencing pain in the early hours of Saturday morning, which intensified while he was out for a run later that day. After participating in an official event in Ascó, Illa suspended his schedule and was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
![Press conference of the medical team from Valle Hebron that is treating Salvador Illa.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 16 9"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
