Experimental Pyelonephritis: Characteristics of Infection in Rats Following Reduction of Bladder Capacity.

Abstract

Summary The incidence of spontaneous pyelonephritis and bladder calculi was studied in rats following cystectomy. 1. Rats were subjected to surgical resection of 1/3 or 1/2 of the bladder. Spontaneously developing pyelonephritis was infrequent (2 of 42 rats) in the first 2 weeks following surgery but increased to 40% (16 animals of 40) in the third and fourth weeks. When the cystectomy was more radical (2/3 of the bladder), the incidence of spontaneous infection increased to 60% (12 of 20 rats) during the first two weeks and to 80% (16 of 20) during the third and fourth weeks after surgery. 2. The infecting organisms isolated were staphylococcus, proteus, a coliform organism or streptococcus. 3. The incidence of bladder calculi was higher in instances of more radical cystectomy (2/3 of the bladder), and followed closely the incidence of infection. Urinary calculi were always present when proteus was the infecting agent.