A case of acute pyelonephritis with multiple bilateral pulmonary nodules

Abstract

Acute pyelonephritis, one of the most common kidney diseases, often occurs as a complication of a urinary tract infection (UTI) that has spread from the bladder to the kidneys. Pulmonary cavitary lesions can come from multiple sources, including complications from a UTI if mixed clots of bacteria travel to the lungs or from metastatic cancer. Herein we describe a case of acute pyelonephritis with cavitary pulmonary lesions in a 75-year-old woman with a recent history of UTI. Her condition deteriorated rapidly from the initial admission and required various treatments to stabilize her condition. Ultimately, the patient and her caregiver chose a relatively conservative management course while in our care. This report describes the course of treatment and the patient's and her caregiver's involvement in care decisions.