A patient with a known lower UTI begins to experience persistent high fever and flank pain despite antibiotic therapy. The nurse should suspect:
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Correct answer: Progression to an upper UTI (pyelonephritis)
Persistence or worsening of symptoms such as fever and flank pain indicate possible spread of the infection to the upper urinary tract (pyelonephritis).
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More Urinary Tract Infections questions
- In diagnosing a UTI, the urinalysis findings most strongly suggestive are:
- A patient with urinary catheter in place is at increased risk of UTIs due to:
- Which of the following is a serious complication of an untreated upper urinary tract infection?
- A 70-year-old man in a nursing home becomes acutely confused with foul-smelling urine and no typical urinary symptoms. The nurse recognises…
- A patient being treated for acute pyelonephritis is admitted with flank pain, high fever, vomiting. The nurse expects:
- Which symptom is more typical of an upper UTI rather than a lower UTI?