Which of the following is a serious complication of an untreated upper urinary tract infection?
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: Acute kidney injury or systemic sepsis
Untreated pyelonephritis (upper UTI) may lead to kidney damage, abscess formation or bloodstream infection (sepsis).
Keep practicing
More Urinary Tract Infections questions
- 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?
- During the management of a lower UTI, the nurse should advise the patient to avoid which of the following to reduce bladder irritation?
- Which statement about recurrent lower UTIs is correct?
- A patient complains of cloudy urine with foul odor and mild burning, no fever. It is likely which condition?