Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Pyelonephritis, an upper UTI, is a bacterial infection of the renal pelvis, tubules, and interstitial tissue of one or both kidneys.
Causes involve either the upward spread of bacteria from the bladder or spread from systemic sources reaching the kidney
via the bloodstream. An incompetent ureterovesical valve or obstruction occurring in the urinary tract increases the
susceptibility of the kidneys to infection. Bladder tumors, strictures, benign prostatic hyperplasia, and urinary stones are
some potential causes of obstruction that can lead to infections. Pyelonephritis may be acute or chronic.
1. Urinalysis. For a urinalysis, you will collect a urine sample in a special container at a doctor’s office or at a lab. A health
care professional will look at the sample under a microscope for bacteria and white blood cells, which the body produces
to fight infection. Bacteria also can be found in the urine of healthy people, so a kidney infection is diagnosed based both
on your symptoms and a lab test.
2. Urine culture. A health care professional may culture your urine to find out what type of bacteria is causing the infection.
A health care professional can see how the bacteria have multiplied, usually in 1 to 3 days, and can then determine the
best treatment.
Imaging tests:
A health care professional may use imaging tests, such as a computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI), or ultrasound, to help diagnose a kidney infection. A technician performs these tests in an outpatient center or a
hospital. A technician may perform an ultrasound in a doctor’s office as well. A radiologist reads and reports on the images.
You don’t need anesthesia.
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT
Patients with acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis are most often treated on an outpatient basis if they are not exhibiting acute
symptoms of sepsis, dehydration, nausea, or vomiting. In addition, they must be responsible and reliable to ensure that all
medications will be taken as prescribed
For outpatients, a 2-week course of antibiotics is recommended; commonly prescribed agents include some of the same
medications prescribed for the treatment of UTIs.
Pregnant women may be hospitalized for 2 or 3 days of parenteral antibiotic therapy. Oral antibiotic agents may be
prescribed once the patient is afebrile and showing clinical improvement.
After the initial antibiotic regimen, the patient may need antibiotic therapy for up to 6 weeks if a relapse occurs. A
follow-up urine culture is obtained 2 weeks after completion of antibiotic therapy to document clearing of the infection.
Hydration with oral or parenteral fluids is essential in all patients with UTIs when there is adequate kidney function.
Pharmacologic Therapy
NURSING INTERVENTIONS
1. Nursing Assessment
a. Mild Symptoms
• Outpatient management or short hospitalization
Adequate fluid intake
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or antipyretic drugs
Follow-up urine culture and imaging studies
• Severe Symptoms
Hospitalization
Adequate fluid intake (parenteral initially; switch to oral fluids as nausea, vomiting, and dehydration
subside)
NSAIDs or antipyretic drugs to reverse fever and relieve discomfort
Follow-up urine culture and imaging studies
2. Nursing Planning
a. The overall goals are that the patient with pyelonephritis will have
Normal renal function
Normal body temperature
No complications
Relief of pain
No recurrence of symptoms
3. Nursing Implementation
a. Nursing interventions vary depending on the severity of symptoms.
b. These interventions include teaching the patient about the disease process with emphasis on
Continuing medications as prescribed
Having a follow-up urine culture
Recognizing manifestations of recurrence or relapse
In addition to antibiotic therapy, encourage the patient to drink at least eight glasses of fluid every day, even
after the infection has been treated.
Rest will increase patient comfort.
COMPLICATIONS
Acute pyelonephritis can have several complications such as renal or perinephric abscess formation, sepsis, renal vein
thrombosis, papillary necrosis, or acute renal failure, with one of the more serious complications being emphysematous
pyelonephritis (EPN). Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a necrotizing infection of the kidney usually caused by E. coli or
Klebsiella pneumoniae and is a severe complication of acute pyelonephritis. EPN is usually seen in the setting of diabetes
and occurs more frequently in women. The diagnosis can be made with ultrasound, but CT is typically necessary. Overall the
mortality rate is estimated to be approximately 38% with better outcomes associated with patients who receive both medical
and surgical management versus medical management alone.