Nephrology Made Simple : Acute Pyelonephritis

Acute Pyelonephritis:

Acute Pyelonephritis is an infectious disease involving the kidney parenchyma and the renal pelvis.



Etiology:

Gram Negative bacteria such as Eschricia coli , Proteus, Klebsiella and Enterobacteraceae are the most common causative organisms.



Laboratory findings:

Raised White cell count with a leukocytosis with left shift is observed.

Urinalysis shows pyuria and varying degrees of haematuria and white cell casts.

Sometimes bacteremia may be present.




Management:

Patient should be hospitalized and emperically treated with IV ampicillin and gentamicin.



Other medicines of interest in Acute Pyelonephritis:

Phenazopyridine :
This is a urinary analgesic.

Nitrofurantoin :
This is a urinary tract anti-infective used mainly in cases ofmild pyelonephritis as well as cystitis.