Objectives: Infectious spondylodiscitis is a rare condition treated in a hospital setting. To estimate its incidence in France, we used the 2002–2003 Medical Information Systems Program (PMSI) database. Methods: Hospital stays were classified as definite, probable, or possible cases of spondylodiscitis, based on the PMSI codes used and their position in the summary. Data regarding hospital stays and patients (chaining of stays for a given patient) were analyzed. The positive predictive value (PPV) of the case definition was tested in three hospitals after analyzing hospital discharge summaries. Results: In 2002–2003, 1,977 and 2,036 hospital stays corresponding to 1,422 and 1,425 patients (mean age 59 years, sex ratio 1.5) were classified as definite cases (64%), probable cases (24%), and possible cases (12%). The annual incidence was 2.4 per 100,000 inhabitants, with a predominance among males (2.6 vs. 1.7). It increased with age, rising from 0.3 per 100,000 among those under 20 to 6.7 among those aged 70 and older. The most frequently coded microorganisms were staphylococci (25%) and M. tuberculosis (20%). The most frequently associated comorbidities were sepsis (27%) and endocarditis (9%). Three percent of cases resulted in death. The positive predictive value (PPV) of the case definition was 94%. Conclusion: The PMSI made it possible to measure the incidence of spondylodiscitis. The PMSI could be used for a comprehensive analysis of diseases treated during hospitalization. (R.A.)