Study of Pyelonephritis Using Renal Biopsy Material

Abstract

Introduction Pyelonephritis is defined as an inflammation of the pelvis and parenchyma of the kidney. Historically the inflammation has been considered to be the result of direct bacterial invasion. However, there is little definitive evidence that documents the presence of bacteria in the kidney of patients with this disease. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if kidney tissue, obtained by percutaneous or surgical biopsy, harbors bacteria in patients with pyelonephritis and to relate these findings to the presence or absence of bacteriuria. Method and Material Patients were included in this study on the basis of the clinical presence of renal disease, most frequently pyelonephritis. A. Bacteriologic. — Renal tissue was obtained from 63 patients by percutaneous biopsy in 58 and by a surgical procedure in 5. A urine culture was done on the day of, or day prior to, the biopsy in most instances. In the other patients