A common laboratory finding in pyelonephritis is which of the following?

A common laboratory finding in pyelonephritis is which of the following?

• A. Bacteriuria on UA
• B. Elevated troponin
• C. Hyperkalemia
• D. Hypokalemia

Answer: (A)

Pyelonephritis is an infection of the upper urinary tract, so bacteria in the urine is a typical finding. On urinalysis you’d expect bacteriuria along with pyuria (white blood cells in the urine), often with leukocyte esterase and sometimes nitrites, reflecting this bacterial infection of the urinary tract. Elevated troponin would indicate cardiac injury, not a urinary infection, and while electrolyte abnormalities can occur with kidney illness, potassium disturbances are not a defining or common feature of uncomplicated pyelonephritis.

Pyelonephritis is an infection of the upper urinary tract, so bacteria in the urine is a typical finding. On urinalysis you’d expect bacteriuria along with pyuria (white blood cells in the urine), often with leukocyte esterase and sometimes nitrites, reflecting this bacterial infection of the urinary tract. Elevated troponin would indicate cardiac injury, not a urinary infection, and while electrolyte abnormalities can occur with kidney illness, potassium disturbances are not a defining or common feature of uncomplicated pyelonephritis.