Acute Pyelonephritis Nursing Measures

Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
Updated on September 05, 2024
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Acute pyelonephritis, also known as an upper urinary tract infection, is a type of bacterial inflammation. In terms of care, patients should first focus on increasing their fluid intake. If the patient does not have urinary system stones, tumors, or other factors causing urinary obstruction—that is, if there is no kidney hydronephrosis—it is recommended that the patient's daily urine output be maintained at 2000-2500 milliliters. This means increasing fluid intake can help flush the urinary system, reducing bacterial growth and reproduction, which is beneficial for the treatment of pyelonephritis. Secondly, since the patient has acute inflammation, dietary considerations should include eating light, avoiding heavy and greasy foods as well as spicy and stimulating foods, and paying attention to perineal hygiene. Additionally, during episodes of fever, if the patient's body temperature is not very high, a warm water sponge bath can be given, especially focusing on the neck, armpits, and the root of the thighs, which can facilitate heat dissipation and is very beneficial for reducing body temperature.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Is pyelonephritis easy to treat?

Pyelonephritis is generally not difficult to treat. Because the condition often appears quite aggressive, it is caused by bacteria entering the urinary system through the urethra, leading to an inflammatory response. Therefore, the primary treatment involves using antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Most of the bacteria causing pyelonephritis are Gram-negative rods, so antibiotics sensitive to Gram-negative rods are often chosen. After a treatment course of 10-14 days, the patient's condition is generally controllable and curable. However, there are also a few cases of chronic pyelonephritis, involving complex factors related to urinary tract infections, such as urinary tract malformations, urinary system stones, prostate hyperplasia, diabetes, etc., which make treatment more difficult. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
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How do you get pyelonephritis?

Pyelonephritis is a clinical type of urinary tract infection, which refers to the inflammatory disease caused by the growth and reproduction of various pathogens in the renal pelvis. Pyelonephritis is usually divided into acute pyelonephritis and chronic pyelonephritis. Acute pyelonephritis is primarily characterized by frequent urination, urgency, painful urination, chills, fever, back pain, overall muscle soreness, and tenderness or percussion pain in one or both kidney areas. Chronic pyelonephritis, on the other hand, shows varying degrees of bilateral renal damage, reduced kidney size, rough surfaces, renal papillary scars, renal tubular atrophy, and chronic inflammation signs such as lymphocyte infiltration in the renal interstitium. Chronic pyelonephritis typically presents with low-grade fever, weight loss, backache, and anemia. Therefore, sufficient attention should be given to pyelonephritis, as chronic pyelonephritis can lead to uremia in patients.

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Written by Pan Wu Shan
Nephrology
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Does pyelonephritis cause a fever?

Pyelonephritis is actually a part of urinary tract infections, which are divided into cystitis and acute pyelonephritis. The main symptoms of cystitis are frequent urination, urgency, and painful urination, among other urinary irritative symptoms, and these do not involve fever. However, if cystitis is not treated in time, it can worsen into acute pyelonephritis, which then presents with symptoms such as fever and back pain. The fever with acute pyelonephritis can be quite high, often exceeding 38 or 39 degrees Celsius, and might last for two to three days. At this point, treatment requires anti-infective medications, which should be continued for two weeks without any interruption. If the treatment duration is insufficient, pyelonephritis may recur. It is important to drink plenty of water, urinate frequently, and avoid holding in urine. Drinking lots of water can help flush out bacteria from the urine early on, promoting a quicker recovery from the illness.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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How is pyelonephritis diagnosed?

Pyelonephritis is an upper urinary tract infection, with over 95% caused by bacterial infections in areas such as the renal pelvis and calyces, leading to inflammation. As a type of bacterial infection, if a patient's urine routine shows leukocytes and there is percussion pain in the renal area, along with fever, these symptoms combined with the urine examination can essentially lead to a diagnosis. However, a definitive diagnosis requires a culture of clean-catch midstream urine. If the bacteria in two consecutive urine cultures exceed 100,000 per milliliter and are the same type, the patient can be clearly diagnosed with pyelonephritis.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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What causes acute pyelonephritis?

Acute pyelonephritis, also known as an upper urinary tract infection, occurs when certain pathogens enter the urinary system and cause inflammation in areas such as the renal pelvis and calyces. Patients typically exhibit symptoms such as fever, back pain, and may also experience visible blood in the urine. The condition often has a severe onset. The common pathogens causing this type of infection primarily include bacteria, fungi, and viruses, among which the vast majority of cases are caused by bacterial infections. Furthermore, Gram-negative bacilli constitute the majority of these bacteria, with Escherichia coli being the most common.