Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- flank pain
- costovertebral angle tenderness
- fever
- new or different myalgia, or flu-like symptoms
- presence of risk factors
- nausea
- vomiting
Other diagnostic factors
- suprapubic tenderness
- tachycardia
- hypotension
Risk factors
- urinary tract infection
- diabetes mellitus
- stress incontinence
- foreign body in urinary tract (e.g., calculus, catheter)
- anatomical/functional urinary abnormality
- immunosuppressive state (e.g., HIV, transplantation, chemotherapy, corticosteroid use)
- pregnancy
- frequent sexual intercourse
- mother with urinary tract infection history
- new sex partner
- spermicide use
- age between 18 and 50 years
- age >60 years
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- urinalysis
- urine culture and sensitivity
- full blood count
- erythrocyte sedimentation rate
- C-reactive protein
- urea and electrolytes
- creatinine
- blood culture (in hospital)
Investigations to consider
- renal ultrasound
- contrast-enhanced CT
- MRI
Treatment algorithm
uncomplicated: non-pregnant
complicated: non-pregnant
pregnant
Contributors
Expert advisers
Andrew Lewington, BSc (Hons), MBBS, MEd, MD, FRCP
Consultant Renal Physician
Honorary Associate Professor
Nephrology Department
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Head of MBChB
School of Medicine
University of Leeds
Leeds
UK
Disclosures
AL has been the principal applicant/co-applicant for a number of grants including: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Research - Multiplexed AKI biomarker detection with a single molecule biosensor; Leeds Cares - A novel, non-invasive diagnostic approach to assess kidney transplant health through the targeted measurement of biomarkers of kidney injury and immune response in kidney transplant recipients at the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; Kidney Research Yorkshire - Use of enhanced technology to characterise haemodialysis treatment for acute kidney injury (AKI); Bringing It Home - Validation of a micro-sampling technique for measuring tacrolimus and creatinine remotely; and to fund a research nurse; British Renal Society - Renal function assessment with point of care creatinine in diverse populations (RAPID), and several NIHR grants including on a) Improving the quality of post-discharge care following AKI b) An investigation into the use of remote blood sample collection to reduce health inequalities in patients with mental health disorders c) A comparison of remote blood collection devices: a human factor use study d) Defining the characteristics for a novel automatic device to monitor urine output in catheterized patients e) Leeds Medtech and In-vitro Diagnostic Cooperative Grant Extension f) Surgical MedTech Co-operative for the 2019/20 proof-of-principle funding stream g) A pilot investigation into the use of beta-trace protein for residual renal function estimation in haemodialysis h) Application of functional MRI to improve assessment of chronic kidney disease (AFiRM study) i) SuperResPath-Renal: Quantitative super-resolution technology for a fast, decentralised clinical diagnosis of renal pathologies. AL is the co-author of a number of manuscripts including on extracorporeal treatments, AKI, kidney function testing prior to contrast-enhanced CT, plasma exchange and glucocorticoids in severe ANCA-associated vasculitis, COVID-19 rapid diagnostics, multimodal image-guided ablation on management of renal cancer in Von-Hippel-Lindau syndrome, and on a summary of NICE guidance on CKD. AL is the author of several book chapters on nephrology and AKI. AL has received expenses for accommodation and travel for conferences at which he has given lectures, other than those delivered virtually. AL was a member of the AKI Scientific Program Committee for the ISN World Congress of Nephrology 2020-2021 and Chair of this same committee in 2021-2022.
Acknowledgements
BMJ Best Practice would like to gratefully acknowledge the previous expert contributor, whose work has been retained in parts of the content:
Lynda A. Frassetto, MD
Professor of Medicine
Division of Nephrology
University of California
San Francisco
CA
LAF declares that she has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Shruti Goel, MBBS, FRCP
Consultant Nephrologist
The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
London
UK
Disclosures
SG declares that she has no competing interests.
Editors
Tessa Davis
Section Editor, BMJ Best Practice
Consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine
Royal London Hospital
London
UK
Disclosures
TD declares that she has no competing interests.
Emma Quigley
Section Editor, BMJ Best Practice
Disclosures
EQ declares that she has no competing interests.
Susan Mayor
Lead Section Editor, BMJ Best Practice
Disclosures
SM works as a freelance medical journalist and editor, video editorial director and presenter, and communications trainer. In this capacity, she has been paid, and continues to be paid, by a wide range of organisations for providing these skills on a professional basis. These include: NHS organisations, including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NHS Choices, NHS Kidney Care, and others; publishers and medical education companies, including the BMJ Group, the Lancet group, Medscape, and others; professional organisations, including the British Thoracic Oncology Group, the European Society for Medical Oncology, the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death, and others; charities and patients’ organisations, including the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and others; pharmaceutical companies, including Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, and others; and communications agencies, including Publicis, Red Healthcare and others. She has no stock options or shares in any pharmaceutical or healthcare companies; however, she invests in a personal pension, which may invest in these types of companies. She is managing director of Susan Mayor Limited, the company name under which she provides medical writing and communications services.
Rachel Wheeler
Lead Section Editor, BMJ Best Practice
Disclosures
RW declares that she has no competing interests.
Annabel Sidwell
Comorbidities Editor, BMJ Best Practice
Disclosures
AS declares that she has no competing interests.
Adam Mitchell
Drug Editor, BMJ Best Practice
Disclosures
AM declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Lower urinary tract infection
- Cystitis
- Acute prostatitis
More DifferentialsGuidelines
- Diagnosis of urinary tract infections: quick reference tool for primary care for consultation and local adaptation
- Pyelonephritis (acute): antimicrobial prescribing
More GuidelinesPatient information
Kidney infection
Kidney stones
More Patient information- Log in or subscribe to access all of BMJ Best Practice
Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer