Concept and Etiology: Pyelonephritis affects the urinary system by
way of the kidneys. It is a kidney infection that begins in the urethra
and travels to one or both kidneys. It usually begins as a urinary tract
infection (UTI) and travels to the kidneys because the bacteria that
causes the infection goes up to the kidneys and then it is classified as
pyelonephritis. E. coli is usually the most common bacteria or cause
of pyelonephritis. The bacteria can enter through the urethra which
carries urine or from an infection elsewhere in the body through the
bloodstream to the kidneys. This disease deviates from the definition
of health because it is a kidney infection so the body would no longer
be in a state of wellbeing or free from illness.
Classification: Pyelonephritis can be classified in two ways: acute and
chronic. Acute pyelonephritis is usually sudden and can be severe.
Chronic pyelonephritis is when the disease keeps reoccurring. In
some cases when acute pyelonephritis goes untreated or not
resolved it can lead to chronic pyelonephritis.
Clinical Manifestations: Signs and symptoms that can alert to
pyelonephritis are foul smelling or cloudy urine, frequent urination,
burning or painful urination, side, back or groin pain, fever, chills and
nausea and vomiting.
Diagnostic Tests: Tests that can preformed to reach a diagnosis of
pyelonephritis are a patient history, physical exam, urinalysis, blood
culture, ultrasound, CT scan, and a voiding X-ray call a
cystourethrogram.
Baskins, Laurence, et al. (2021) University of California San
Francisco. Urinary Tract
Infection/Pyelonephritis. https://urology.ucsf.edu/patient-care/child
ren/urinary-tract-infection-pyelonephritis#.YZ4gKtDMLIU
Mayo Clinic. (2021). Kidney
Infection.https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-
infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353387
Story, L. (2017). Pathophysiology: A Practical Approach (3rd Edition).
Jones & Bartlett
Learning. https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781284142983
