Kidney Infection

What is a kidney infection? 

A kidney infection is a type of urinary tract infection (UTI) that occurs when a virus or bacteria enters your kidney(s) through the urinary tract system. Also called pyelonephritis, a kidney infection can become serious and needs immediate medical attention to stop the infection and treat symptoms. 

The infection typically travels up through the urinary tract system from the bladder ureters, or urethra and enters one or both kidneys. Kidney infections are fairly common, affecting roughly 1 in 2,000 Americans each year. There are treatments available to treat kidney infections once you notice the symptoms of one. Some people confuse a UTI for a kidney infection and might brush away symptoms of a UTI. A UTI can easily result in a kidney infection, so it is crucial to take action if you suspect you have an infection in any part of the urinary tract system.

What causes a kidney infection?

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A kidney infection is caused by a harmful bacteria or virus that enters the kidneys through the urinary tract system. In most cases, the bacteria has already caused an infection in the bladder that works its way up to the kidneys. Your kidneys are responsible for producing urine and also to clear out toxins and germs. Sometimes if an infection has already festered into the body, the infection can impact the kidneys and lead to an infection in the kidneys. 

Bacteria is the most frequent source of the infection. The following list of bacteria cause kidney infections:

  • Proteus mirabilis
  • E. coli
  • Staphylococcus 
  • Enterobacter 

The bacteria that can cause a kidney infection is often present in the intestines, so it can easily pass from the intestines to the urethra through fecal matter. So, a kidney infection could occur as a result of sexual intercourse through a transference from the bowels to genitals or through poor wiping practices after a bowel movement. In addition, contracting a UTI might lead to a kidney infection. 

What are the symptoms of a kidney infection?

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Symptoms of kidney infections typically occur quickly within hours of the infection setting in. Each person’s symptoms may vary in type and severity. Common symptoms of a kidney infection include:

  • Chills
  • Pain in lower back 
  • Pain when urinating 
  • Fever
  • Frequent urge to urinate
  • Bloody urine 
  • Feeling sick to stomach and throwing up
  • Cloudy urine 
  • Diarrhea 

You might experience these symptoms along with others if you already have a UTI. Combined with the UTI symptoms, urinating will be very difficult and painful. 

Are there any risk factors or groups for a kidney infection?

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There are a variety of risk factors that make someone more likely to develop a kidney infection than others. 

  1. Sex: Those who were assigned female at birth have shorter urethras, increasing the risk that bacteria can travel up to the kidneys as opposed to people who were assigned male at birth who have a longer urethra. In addition, the close proximity of the vagina to the anus makes the transfer of bad bacteria more likely. 
  2. Urinary tract anatomy: Any blockage in the urinary tract system increases your risk of kidney infections. Blockage examples include an enlarged prostate, a narrowed urethra, or a kidney stone. 
  3. Medical conditions: Medical conditions that cause a person to have a weakened immune system put that person in a risk group for kidney infections. Conditions like diabetes and HIV are examples of conditions that weaken the immune system and make infections more likely. Other conditions, such as vesicoureteral reflux, impact how the urine flows through the urinary tract system and can carry bacteria up to the kidneys. 
  4. Prior injury: Nerve damage can numb symptoms of a kidney infection or UTI, making it more likely that an infection would set in.  
  5. Pregnancy: Pregnant people face a higher chance of a kidney infection. Approximately 1% to 2% of people will get a kidney infection during their pregnancy. 
  6. Use of catheter: Catheters make it easier for bacteria to enter the urethra and cause UTIs. 

How is a kidney infection diagnosed?

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To diagnose a kidney infection, you will need to see a doctor. During an appointment, the doctor will use a variety of diagnostic tests to diagnose the cause of your symptoms and prescribe a treatment plan. Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and health history to understand your risk of an infection and what could have caused it. 

Next, your doctor will assess your symptoms and take your vital measurements, such as temperature and blood pressure. In addition, your doctor may place light pressure on the points you are experiencing pain. These exams will help detect infection and pinpoint the source of the pain. For those with a prostate, the doctor may conduct a rectal exam to assess the status of the prostate gland. 

Most often, your doctor will need to order a urine test to detect infection. A urine test will look for the presence of bacteria and white blood cells. Beyond a urinalysis, imaging tests can produce images of the kidneys and urinary tract system as a whole to identify other issues and confirm a kidney infection diagnosis. 

How is a kidney infection treated?

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The primary treatment for a kidney infection is a course of antibiotics. There are different antibiotics that can resolve a kidney infection, so your doctor will review your health history to determine which antibiotic would be the most effective for you. The list of possible antibiotics to treat an infection include:

  • Nitrofurantoin 
  • Trimethoprim
  • Amoxicillin 
  • Ciprofloxacin 
  • Cephalexin 

On average, the course of oral antibiotics lasts 14 days with symptom relief noticeable after a few days. After this period, your doctor will assess the success of the antibiotic course. If the antibiotics did not resolve the infection, you may need extended treatment in the hospital through intravenous (IV) antibiotic treatments. The severity of the infection will determine how long you need to remain in the hospital. 

For cases where the kidney infection was caused by a blockage in the urinary tract system, surgery may be required to remove the blockage for proper functioning. A kidney specialist will help determine how best to treat the underlying cause of recurrent kidney infections to prevent further infection. 

At home, you can use over-the-counter pain medication to alleviate pain as well as a heating pad on your stomach and back. Drinking plenty of water will help the kidneys flush out toxins and return to normal urination habits.

Should you see a doctor for a kidney infection?

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You should always see a doctor for a kidney infection because prompt treatment can help prevent serious complications and can quickly resolve the infection. Kidney infections are uncomfortable and painful. Do not ignore any symptoms that could be caused by a kidney infection. Instead, seek immediate care if you suspect you have an infection. When you experience symptoms such as persistent pain in the lower back and side, shivers, nausea, or other indications of infection, contact a medical professional. 

Be prepared to talk about your symptoms and go over your health history with a medical professional who will go through the diagnostic steps and prescribe the best treatment plan for you. You can also review the best practices to prevent another kidney infection and manage your symptoms at home.

What are the complications of a kidney infection?

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If left untreated, a kidney infection can have serious and potentially life-threatening complications. Immunocompromised people, adults over 80 years old, and those with preexisting urinary tract issues are at a higher risk of developing the following complications, so be sure to seek medical attention immediately for a kidney infection. 

  • Kidney abscess: Pus that cannot drain properly because of a kidney infection can create abscesses that sometimes require surgery to drain. 
  • Acute renal failure: Kidney infections can cause one or both kidneys to go into failure, requiring dialysis treatments. 
  • Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN):
  • Sepsis: Sepsis can occur if the bacteria infecting the kidney spreads throughout the bloodstream.  
  • Pregnancy complications: Having a kidney infection while pregnant can cause the baby to have a low birth rate in some cases. 

What is the outlook for people living with a kidney infection?

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Many people in good health make a full recovery after a kidney infection. Antibiotics are effective at resolving the infection and clearing it out from the body within a few weeks. For the cases of kidney infections that do not resolve easily after a course of antibiotics require stronger treatment and could cause complications if the infection does not resolve. The outlook for more difficult kidney infections is more complicated if serious conditions result from the infection. 

You can reduce your risk of kidney infections by adopting some lifestyle habits and monitoring your symptoms. Practicing good hygiene in the bathroom can help keep bacteria away from your urethra and keeping to a regular urination schedule can help empty your bladder only when necessary. After sexual intercourse, urinating immediately can assist in clearing away any bad bacteria that could cause infection. Drinking fluids supports a healthy urinary tract system to effectively remove bacteria. 

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