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Fever in the clinical diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis.

Acute pyelonephritis is a clinical syndrome that can be confused with other conditions. To investigate this problem, a retrospective cohort study was conducted using two mutually exclusive sets of clinical criteria for acute pyelonephritis in women 15 years of age or older who presented to the emergency department of a university hospital. All patients had pyuria, and one group had documented fever (temperature of > or = 37.8 degrees C) while the other group had a temperature of < 37.8 degrees C but had other evidence of possible upper tract infection. The study cohort was comprised of 103 febrile and 201 afebrile patients. Afebrile hospitalized patients were ultimately found to have another diagnosis more often than were the febrile hospitalized patients (35% v 7%; P = .02), and the afebrile nonhospitalized patients were more likely to have another diagnosis than were the febrile nonhospitalized patients (13% v 0%; P = .004). Other diagnoses included cholecystitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and diverticulitis. The positive predictive value of the definition of pyelonephritis in the febrile group was 0.98, and it was 0.84 for the afebrile group. Physicians examining patients with clinical evidence of acute pyelonephritis but without objective fever should be alert for alternative diagnoses.

Acute Disease↗

Bilateral emphysematous pyelonephritis.

In any diabetic patient being diagnosed or treated for pyelonephritis, it is important to exclude the diagnosis of emphysematous pyelonephritis, which carries a high mortality rate. The authors present an illustrative case of emphysematous pyelonephritis treated with antibiotics and emergency nephrectomy. The signs, symptoms, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of emphysematous pyelonephritis are discussed.

Abscess↗

[Power Doppler sonography and acute pyelonephritis in children: comparison with Tc-DMSA scintigraphy].

UNLABELLED: Acute pyelonephritis is a common infection in children. The clinical and biological diagnosis is still sometimes difficult. For most authors, Technecium 99m dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy is considered as the gold standard tool for diagnosis but it is invasive and expensive. The aim of our study was to compare the sensitivity and the specificity of B-mode sonography and power doppler to DMSA-Tc scintigraphy in acute pyelonephritis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-nine children were enrolled in this study with suspicion of pyelonephritis. All infants underwent doppler sonography and scintigraphy within 48 hours after their hospitalization. Doppler sonography criteria were increased kidney size, thickness of sinus wall, vascular defect, and various echogenicity of the kidneys (focal or diffuse hyperechogenicity or focal hypoechogenicity). RESULTS: Among 28 children with a positive scintigraphy, 15 had a positive doppler sonography (sensitivity 54%) and 13 had a negative doppler sonography. Among 21 children with a negative scintigraphy, 20 had a negative doppler sonography (specificity 95%) and one had a positive doppler sonography. CONCLUSION: In clinically suspected acute pyelonephritis, doppler sonography has a high specificity. A positive doppler sonography should avoid the use of scintigraphy.

Acute Disease↗

[Role of DMSA scintigraphy in managing pediatric pyelonephritis].

Pyelonephritis in children may lead to irreversible renal damage and eventually to arterial hypertension and renal insufficiency. Inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of pyelonephritis. Dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy permits detection of acute renal lesions and renal scars with high sensitivity and specificity. In our experience 60% of patients who had acute renal lesions on DMSA scintigraphy during pyelonephritis develop scars. Young age appears to be not a risk factor, as in our experience 70% of children older than 5 years develop scars compared to 40% for children younger than 1 year. In addition, only 40% of patients who develop scars have vesicoureteral reflux. DMSA scintigraphy may provide answers to important clinical questions: what is the optimal length of treatment of pyelonephritis? Is parenteral treatment necessary? What is the best treatment of vesicoureteral reflux? DMSA scintigraphy permits therapeutical decision-making according to the renal involvement in each of our patients.

Acute Disease↗

Ureteric catheterization in the diagnosis of pyelonephritis--an experimental evaluation.

Experimental models of renal infections have been used to determine the accuracy with which the cellular and microbiologic components of ureteric and voided urine reflected the pathologic status of the kidney in pyelonephritis. In acute pyelonephritis, the composition of the ureteric urine reflected the pathologic status of the kidney, although in a few cases ureteric samples were either sterile or cell free. Animals with chronic pyelonephritis in which the lesions were either infected or sterile commonly had sterile ureteric urine. Pyuria, however, was demonstrable in both these situations. In subclinical pyelonephritis, ureteric samples from infected kidneys were variably culture positive, although pyuria was a common observation. Discriminate function analysis based on actual renal status and ureteric data gave an overall correct classification rate of 67% and demonstrated at least 80% agreement in four of the five classification groups.

Animals↗

Suppressed antibody and interleukin-6 responses to acute pyelonephritis in pregnancy.

This study examined the effect of pregnancy on the host response to acute pyelonephritis. Urine and serum samples were obtained at the time of diagnosis and after two weeks, from non-pregnant and pregnant women with acute pyelonephritis. The samples were analyzed for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and specific antibody activity to antigens extracted from the Escherichia coli strain infecting each patient. The host response to infection was further quantitated as fever, C-reactive protein, and renal concentrating capacity. Acute pyelonephritis in non-pregnant and pregnant women was accompanied by a significant serum and urine antibody response. The serum antibody response was significantly lower in the pregnant group. The IL-6 levels in serum and urine at diagnosis were significantly higher in the non-pregnant compared to the pregnant women. These results demonstrate that the immunosuppression of pregnancy includes the mucosal IL-6 and specific antibody responses to acute pyelonephritis caused by E. coli.

Acute Disease↗

Complicating risk factors for pyelonephritis after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.

PURPOSE: The score to predict the risk of post-extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) pyelonephritis was evaluated. The score was based on the multivariate analysis of risk factors available pre-operatively. Stone size, pyuria, bacteriuria, previous pyelonephritis and other adjunctive procedures had been selected and scored. METHODS: Three-hundred and forty-eight adult patients without active urinary infection undergoing ESWL therapy were studied. One of three regimens were selected by either doctor or patient: (i) no antimicrobial treatment; (ii) one dose of levofloxacin; or (iii) 1 week course of levofloxacin. Who and why selected it were described. Post-ESWL fever over 38 degrees C was defined as the unfavorable event. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: With increasing score, doctors recommend taking an antimicrobial. There were 11 bacteriuric patients and post-ESWL pyelonephritis developed in one of them. Bacteria within the stone and post-ESWL ureteral obstruction caused by the stone fragments were considered to be important in developing pyelonephritis. However, multiple factors were related with it. Although their decision was not based simply on the score, the score was confirmed to be useful in identifying the high-risk patients and, therefore, to implement cost-effective antimicrobial use.

Adolescent↗

Retrospective analysis of inflammatory parameters in acute pyelonephritis.

OBJECTIVE: Different parameters were compared in children with acute pyelonephritis in order to facilitate the early detection of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in primary healthcare settings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional, hospital-based study. A total of 149 children with confirmed acute pyelonephritis were retrospectively analyzed between January 1999 and December 2000. The primary factors studied were body temperature, C-reactive protein level, white blood cell count and neutrophil ratio. RESULTS: The study population comprised 82 males (55.0%) and 67 females (45.0%). The mean age of the patients was 2.7 +/- 3.9 years (age range 1 day to 18 years; 75% <3 years old). Of 123 patients who underwent voiding cystourethrography, 34 (27.6%) had VUR. When raised C-reactive protein, leukocytosis and raised neutrophil ratio occurred together, the specificity and positive predictive value for predicting VUR were obviously increased, but sensitivity was radically decreased. After controlling for the other covariates, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that factors significantly related to VUR were age (odds ratio = 1.3, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.67; p < 0.05) and raised neutrophil ratio (odds ratio = 4.2, 95% confidence interval 1.1-16.5; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings emphasize that the prevalence of VUR in children with acute pyelonephritis is extremely high. If a raised neutrophil ratio is observed, the potential risk of VUR is significantly increased in patients with clinically suspected acute pyelonephritis. Hence, the neutrophil ratio is recommended as an excellent parameter for predicting VUR.

Adolescent↗

Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli clonal groups causing community-acquired pyelonephritis.

From October 1999 through January 2000, an Escherichia coli clonal group (designated "CgA") was isolated from the urine of nearly one-half of all women with urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ)-resistant E. coli in a California community. This study describes the prevalence of pyelonephritis caused by CgA in the same community. E. coli isolates were characterized by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR), serogrouping, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Fourteen (11%) of 130 women with UTIs received a diagnosis of pyelonephritis. CgA was associated with 4 (57%) of the 7 pyelonephritis cases caused by TMP-SMZ-resistant E. coli and was associated with none of the cases caused by TMP-SMZ-susceptible E. coli (P<.02). Six (86%) of these TMP-SMZ-resistant E. coli isolates belonged to 2 distinct ERIC2 PCR-defined clonal groups, whereas all of the TMP-SMZ-susceptible E. coli strains had unique fingerprints (P<.001). The prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant pyelonephritis in a community may be affected by a limited number of E. coli clonal groups.

Adolescent↗

Internalization of Escherichia coli into human kidney epithelial cells: comparison of fecal and pyelonephritis-associated strains.

A gentamicin survival assay, using primary human renal epithelial cells and Escherichia coli strains isolated from the feces of asymptomatic individuals and from the urine or blood of patients with acute pyelonephritis, was used to investigate bacterial internalization as a model for renal parenchymal invasion in pyelonephritis. E. coli strains, regardless of their origin, efficiently entered into human renal epithelial cells, a process inhibited by cytochalasin D. While the percentage of survival of nonhemolytic pyelonephritis isolates did not differ from that of fecal isolates, survival of hemolytic pyelonephritis strains was lower than that of nonhemolytic strains, perhaps as a consequence of the greater cytotoxicity of hemolytic strains. There was no evidence of intracellular multiplication of E. coli. These results demonstrate that human renal epithelial cells are capable of efficient uptake of E. coli regardless of the source of the bacteria.

Cells, Cultured↗

Assessment of radioisotopic micturating cystography for the diagnosis of vesicoureteric reflux in renal transplant recipients with acute pyelonephritis.

BACKGROUND: The gold standard for documenting vesicoureteric reflux is direct (retrograde) micturating cystography (MC). In children, radioisotopic MC has been advocated for increased sensitivity and lesser radiation exposure. In renal transplant recipients, where reflux can induce acute pyelonephritis, this technique has not been evaluated. The aim of this study was to assess the radioisotopic technique in these patients. METHODS: Seventeen renal transplant recipients had developed acute pyelonephritis following the surgical grafting procedure. They were investigated using both MC techniques. Radioisotopic MC was performed using 99mTc-pertechnetate. RESULTS: Reflux was documented in nine patients by radioisotopic MC but in only seven with the conventional technique. All negative patients remained symptom free after the pyelonephritis was cured and it was assumed that they had no reflux. Consequently, using the radioisotopic MC as gold standard, the conventional X-ray technique had a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Direct radioisotopic MC allowing continuous cystogram recording is more accurate than conventional X-ray MC for the diagnosis of vesicoureteric reflux in transplanted patients with acute pyelonephritis.

Acute Disease↗

Pyelonephritis and acute renal failure.

Bacterial invasion of the renal parenchyma, pyelonephritis, is rarely considered as a primary cause of acute renal failure, particularly in adults. We report two cases of acute renal failure occurring in absence of hypotension, urinary tract obstruction, or nephrotoxic medications that are likely the direct consequence of pyelonephritis. The first case involved a 48-year-old HIV-positive woman who presented with 3 days of nonspecific symptoms and was noted to have acute renal failure. Due to unremitting renal dysfunction, a renal biopsy was performed confirming the diagnosis of bacterial pyelonephritis. The second case, a 33-year-old man with HIV disease, presented with fever and was found to have pyelonephritis by urine culture and ultrasonography. These cases represented initial diagnostic dilemmas for the admitting physicians and demonstrate the varied clinical presentations of acute renal failure as a direct consequence of bacterial infiltration of the renal parenchyma.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

Acute pyelonephritis in the elderly.

We did a prospective study of the clinical, laboratory, radiologic, and therapeutic features of acute, symptomatic, bacterial pyelonephritis in 35 consecutive elderly, noncatheterized patients who required hospitalization. Pyelonephritis had been identified as the most common cause of gram-negative bacteremia in elderly patients admitted to a community hospital. Appropriate antibiotic therapy and, of equal importance, a lack of serious associated medical illnesses contributed to the 97% survival. Two features appear to distinguish acute, symptomatic, bacterial pyelonephritis in elderly women from that in young women: an increased incidence of bacteremia and septic shock. We provide guidelines for the diagnostic evaluation and antibiotic therapy of acute, symptomatic, community-acquired, bacterial pyelonephritis in the elderly.

Acute Disease↗

Short-course parenteral antibiotic therapy for pyelonephritis in pregnancy.

A short-term course of an intravenous cephalosporin (cefuroxime) was used as therapy in 24 cases of pyelonephritis due to susceptible organisms in 23 pregnant women. Clinical cure was achieved in 96% of patients, and there were no adverse reactions to the drug. Bacteriologic cure was documented in 52% of those clinical cures, whereas 26% were considered to have bacterial colonization. However, 50% of those patients with bacteriologic cure subsequently had bacteriuria or pyelonephritis caused by other organisms. We conclude that women who have pyelonephritis in pregnancy are at high risk for subsequent urinary tract disease, even if adequately treated for their index infection. Short-term parenteral antibiotic therapy, followed by long-term oral suppressive therapy, is probably the treatment of choice for pyelonephritis complicating pregnancy.

Administration, Oral↗

Acute graft pyelonephritis: a potential cause of acute rejection in renal transplant.

Acute graft pyelonephritis is a common complication in renal transplant recipients. The consequences of this complication on kidney allograft survival remain controversial. Bacterial infection is likely to activate the immune system, potentially leading to acute or chronic rejection. Here, we report for the first time two documented cases of acute rejection occurring shortly after acute graft pyelonephritis, suggesting that pyelonephritis can initiate acute rejection. The immunologic process leading to the alloimmune response is discussed. These reports suggest that acute rejection should be questioned in case of atypical graft outcome in the context of acute graft pyelonephritis.

Acute Disease↗

Plasma and urinary adrenomedullin levels in children with acute pyelonephritis.

AIM: Adrenomedullin (AM), a novel peptide recently isolated from pheochromocytoma, eliciting vasorelaxing activity, is the strongest among all known peptides. AM has been detected in the adrenal medulla, cardiac tissue, lung and kidney. Immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated the localization of AM in glomeruli, tubules and collecting cells of the kidney. Clinically, plasma and urinary AM levels are altered in patients with different renal disease. The present study aims to determine plasma and urinary AM levels in children with acute pyelonephritis (APN) and compare the results with a control group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group was comprised of 19 patients with APN aged 11.6 +/- 3.7 months (range, 6-18 months) and the control group consisted of 16 cases aged 11.5 +/- 3.2 months (range, 7-16 months). Acute pyelonephritis was diagnosed by clinical, laboratory and imaging methods. Plasma and urinary AM levels were measured by high performance liquid chromotography (HPLC). RESULTS: The plasma AM levels were lower in APN patients (33.40 +/- 2.27 pmol/mL) than in the control group (43.76 +/- 4.27 pmol/mL) (P < 0.001), whereas the urinary AM levels were higher in APN patients (248.58 +/- 140.63 pmol/mg urinary creatinine) than in the control group (49.42 +/- 45.23 pmol/mg) (P < 0.001). Coefficients of correlation between urinary AM levels and C-reactive protein and white blood cells were statistically significant (r = 0.472, P = 0.041; r = 0.555, P = 0.014, respectively). CONCLUSION: Adrenomedullin, a smooth muscle relaxant peptide that is synthesized in urinary tract tissue might have a role in acute pyelonephritis. However, the importance of AM in the pathogenesis of acute pyelonephritis remains to be determined by further detailed studies.

Acute Disease↗

The role of indirect radionuclide cystography during the acute phase of pyelonephritis in young women.

OBJECTIVE: To review our experience using dynamic 99mTc-diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid renal scintigraphy combined with indirect radionuclide cystography (IRC) in the acute phase of pyelonephritis, as a possible alternative to the conventional imaging, as investigating acute pyelonephritis usually includes imaging the upper urinary tract during the acute phase, to exclude obstruction, and delayed voiding cysto-urethrography (VCUG) when underlying vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR) is suspected. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1997 and 1999, 47 young women (median age 22 years, range 18-37) were hospitalized for acute pyelonephritis. The combined study was used during the acute phase of the disease, usually within 24 h of hospitalization. The principle of IRC is based on the reappearance of radioactivity in the ureters or kidneys after previously detecting renal clearance of an intravenously injected radioisotope. The increase in radioactivity over the ureters or kidneys indicates VUR. The subsequent follow-up included VCUG, after recovery and at least 6 weeks after discharge. RESULTS: Overall, 47 patients had early IRC studies; obstruction of the urinary tract during the acute phase of the disease was excluded in all. In 13 (28%) of the patients early IRC studies showed VUR involving 21 upper tract units. The renal parenchymal scan was impaired in 17 (36%) patients, and six of these 17 also had detectable concomitant reflux on IRC. Overall, 24 IRC studies (51%) were considered positive, showing VUR, renal parenchymal pathology or both; 23 (49%) were normal. Follow-up VCUG was used in 32 patients (68%); only three (9%) detected VUR. All of the patients with VUR on follow-up VCUG had also had an abnormal early IRC study, showing either reflux (two) or findings suggestive of pathological renal parenchyma (one). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the well-established role of renal scintigraphy in excluding obstruction of the collecting system, early IRC is characterized by high sensitivity and accurate negative predictive value for detecting VUR. It can therefore be used to screen adults presenting with acute pyelonephritis for the presence of VUR. Patients with an abnormal IRC require follow-up VCUG after complete recovery, while those with a negative study may be managed expectantly, with no further radiological evaluation. This proposed strategy may avoid up to half of the delayed VCUG studies, preclude the related inconvenience, and substantially reduce the costs.

Acute Disease↗

Risk factors for a poor outcome after therapy for acute pyelonephritis.

OBJECTIVE: To define and characterize risk factors for the failure of treatment for acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis, as there are few reports available to predict which patients will respond poorly to treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess data from two prospective clinical trials designed to evaluate antibiotic regimens for urinary tract infections. Data from 522 adult patients with acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis were analysed. RESULTS: The cure rate was 442/522 (85%) for patients with acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis. Significant independent predictors for treatment failure included hospitalization at baseline (P < 0.001), the presence of a resistant infecting organism (P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.001), and a history of kidney stones (P = 0.004). The cure rate was 35/74 (47%) for patients with at least one of these four risk factors. Of the 80 patients assessed as treatment failures, only 39 (49%) had at least one of the four risk factors. CONCLUSION: Four risk factors for a poor outcome after therapy for acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis were identified. The strongest predictors of failure were the need for hospitalization at baseline and the presence of an organism resistant to the antimicrobial agent used for therapy. Two other factors, diabetes mellitus and a history of kidney stones, might assist clinicians at the initial evaluation to decide which patients are at risk of subsequent treatment failure.

Acute Disease↗