Which of the following laboratory results does the nurse recognize as characteristic

of a patient with pyelonephritis?

A. leukopenia
B. pyuria
C. acidic urine pH
D. negative urine culture

Answer & Rationale B Pyuria is pus in the urine, resulting from the infection
(causing inflammation of the kidney). This infection is usually due to bacteria, which
would cause urine to be alkaline and would also result in a positive urine culture. To
fight off the infection, white blood cells would increase (leukocytosis, not
leukopenia).

Source:
Lewis, S. M. (2011). Nursing management: Renal and urologic problems. In Medical-
surgical nursing: Assessment and management of clinical problems (8th ed., pp. 1128,
1137). St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier/Mosby.