Learn what a typical Kidney infection prognosis is at Consumer Reports Health.

Kidney infection

What will happen to me?

We can't say exactly what will happen if you have a kidney infection. Some people get better quickly with treatment. But these infections can be serious. Some people need treatment in the hospital.

What will happen to you depends on several things. These include:

Source:
Ramakrishnan K, Scheid DC.
Diagnosis and management of acute pyelonephritis in adults.
American Family Physician. 2005; 71: 933-942.

Source:
Horcajada JP, Smithson A.
Acute pyelonephritis in adults: an update.
Reviews in Medical Microbiology. 2003; 14: 119-127.

How bad your

infection
You get an infection when viruses, bacteria, fungi or other tiny organisms get into your body. These bugs are so tiny that you can't see them without a microscope. For example, an infection in your airways causes the common cold. And an infection in your skin can cause rashes such as athlete's foot.

infection is
How old you are
Whether you have other health problems
Whether you get the right medication
Whether treatment works for you.

If your doctor thinks you have a kidney infection, you'll probably need to give a urine sample. This can be tested to find out what kind of

bacteria
Bacteria are tiny organisms. There are lots of different types. Some are harmful and can cause disease. But some bacteria live in your body without causing any harm.

bacteria are causing your symptoms. Your doctor can then prescribe the type of drug that's best at killing those bacteria. To read more about giving a urine sample, see What are the symptoms of a kidney infection?

Your treatment also depends on whether your kidney infection is complicated or uncomplicated. If your infection is complicated, it means it's more serious for some reason. You might have another medical condition that makes your infection worse, for example.

Being treated at home

If you have an uncomplicated infection, you'll probably be treated at home. If you get the right treatment, you should be feeling much better within a few days. You'll probably be completely cured after two weeks.

Source:
Bergeron MG.
Treatment of pyelonephritis in adults.
Medical Clinics of North America. 1995; 79: 619-649.

About 9 in 10 people with an uncomplicated infection can be treated at home. But your doctor needs to make sure that you:

Source:
Ramakrishnan K, Scheid DC.
Diagnosis and management of acute pyelonephritis in adults.
American Family Physician. 2005; 71: 933-942.

Can take drugs as pills (you don't need to be given drugs as an

intravenous infusion
When a medicine or a fluid, such as blood, is fed directly into a vein, it's called an intravenous infusion (or IV). To give you an intravenous infusion, a nurse, technician or a doctor places a narrow plastic tube into a vein (usually in your arm) using a needle. The needle is then removed and the fluid is infused (or dripped) through the tube into the vein.

intravenous infusion). For example, if you're vomiting a lot, you might not be able to take pills.
Have good support at home.

If you're treated at home, you'll probably be advised to take acetaminophen (brand name

intravenous infusion
When a medicine or a fluid, such as blood, is fed directly into a vein, it's called an intravenous infusion (or IV). To give you an intravenous infusion, a nurse, technician or a doctor places a narrow plastic tube into a vein (usually in your arm) using a needle. The needle is then removed and the fluid is infused (or dripped) through the tube into the vein.

Tylenol) to reduce pain and fever. To read more, see Painkillers for people with a kidney infection. You'll also be advised to drink plenty of fluids.

You'll need to see a doctor for checkups. Let the doctor know if you are not getting better, or are getting worse, after a few days.

Source:
Car J.
Urinary tract infections in women: diagnosis and management in primary care.
BMJ. 2006; 332: 94-97.

⁴

Being treated in the hospital

You'll need to be treated in the hospital if:

Source:
Bass PF, Jarvis JA, Mitchell CK.
Urinary tract infections.
Primary Care. Clinics in Office Practice. 2003; 30: 41-61.

⁵

You're feeling sick to your stomach a lot and can't keep fluids down
You have signs of sepsis. Sepsis is a dangerous complication where bacteria get into your bloodstream.
Your doctor isn't sure your symptoms are caused by a kidney infection
Your urinary tract is blocked. Your urinary tract includes your kidneys, bladder and the tubes that carry urine.

You may need to go to the hospital if you:

Are over 60
Are pregnant
Have another health problem that affects your urinary tract
Are no better after three days, or you're getting worse
Have an

immune system
The immune system is made up of the parts of the body that are devoted to fighting infection. The body is constantly being threatened by infections from things like bacteria, viruses and parasites. The immune system fights these infections in different ways. At the microscopic level, the immune system uses antibodies and white blood cells, which travel in the blood and target infectious agents, such as bacteria. These microscopic parts of the immune system either kill the infectious agent directly, or take it to other parts of the body, like the spleen, where it can be dealt with. The lymph nodes are another important part of the immune system. Within them, white blood cells filter through the foreign material that has entered the blood, to see if there are any infections. When you have a swollen gland during a cold, this is actually a lymph node that is reacting to the infection. Unfortunately, it is possible for the immune system to become confused and to use its destructive powers to target healthy parts of the body. Diseases that result from this type of situation are called autoimmune diseases.

immune system that has been weakened and can't fight disease as well as it should. This could be because of

diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes too much sugar to circulate in your blood. It happens when your body stops making a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when insulin stops working (type 2 diabetes).

diabetes, cancer or an organ transplant.
Think you would find it difficult to get to follow-up appointments
Don't have good support at home.

Women with a kidney infection are about five times more likely than men to need treatment in a hospital.

Source:
Ramakrishnan K, Scheid DC.
Diagnosis and management of acute pyelonephritis in adults.
American Family Physician. 2005; 71: 933-942.

If you're treated in the hospital, you'll probably be given antibiotics as an

intravenous infusion (an IV). Drugs given as an IV work quickly because they go straight into your bloodstream. Once you're feeling better, usually after two or three days, you'll probably move on to

antibiotics
These medications are used to help your immune system fight infection. There are a number of different types of antibiotics that work in different ways to get rid of bacteria, parasites and other infectious agents. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.

antibiotic pills.

Source:
Warren JW, Abrutyn E, Hebel JR, et al.
Guidelines for antimicrobial treatment of uncomplicated acute bacterial cystitis and acute pyelonephritis in women.
Clinical Infectious Diseases. 1999; 29: 745-758.

⁶

How long will I need treatment?

Most people need to take antibiotics for about two weeks. But if you have a mild infection, taking them for a week may be enough.

⁶ If you have a complicated kidney infection, you may need to take antibiotics for as long as three weeks.

Source:
Horcajada JP, Smithson A.
Acute pyelonephritis in adults: an update.
Reviews in Medical Microbiology. 2003; 14: 119-127.

² It's very important to finish the course of pills, even if you feel better before you've finished taking them.

You should have another urine test one or two weeks after you finish taking antibiotics. This is to make sure that you're not infected any more.

Source:
Ramakrishnan K, Scheid DC.
Diagnosis and management of acute pyelonephritis in adults.
American Family Physician. 2005; 71: 933-942.

Sometimes antibiotic treatment doesn't work. This may happen if:

Source:
Ramakrishnan K, Scheid DC.
Diagnosis and management of acute pyelonephritis in adults.
American Family Physician. 2005; 71: 933-942.

The bacteria that are causing the infection have become resistant to the particular drug you've been given. This means the bacteria have changed and can't be killed by that drug. You'll need to be given another drug.
You have a kidney stone. You may need surgery to remove it.

What complications could I get?

Although most people get better completely with treatment, some go on to have complications. These can include:

Source:
U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Medline Plus medical encylopedia: kidney infection (pyelonephritis).
July 2006. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000522.htm (accessed on 20 October 2008).

⁷

A build-up of pus in your kidney, called an abscess. You may need surgery to remove the pus.
Sepsis. This is a serious illness caused by bacteria getting into your bloodstream. The bacteria make poisonous chemicals that can make you very sick. If you get sepsis, you'll need intensive care in the hospital and antibiotics given by an IV.
Sudden kidney failure. This is when your kidneys stop working. It's a serious problem, and you'll need intensive care in the hospital, but it usually gets better. While your kidneys aren't working, you may need a treatment called dialysis. Dialysis uses a machine to filter your blood and remove waste and fluids in the same way your kidneys would.

Some people get repeated kidney infections. This can lead to scarring and permanent damage to the kidney.

Source:
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Pyelonephritis (kidney infection) in adults.
June 2007. Available at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/pyelonephritis (accessed on 21 October 2008).

⁸ These infections usually happen less often with time, but your doctor may recommend that you take a small dose of an antibiotic every day to prevent them.

Source:
Car J.
Urinary tract infections in women: diagnosis and management in primary care.
BMJ. 2006; 332: 94-97.

⁴

It's rare for a kidney infection to be bad enough to die from, but it can happen. Men are more likely to die from a kidney infection than women. About 16 men die for every 1,000 who have a kidney infection. For women, it's only about 7 in 1,000.

Source:
Foxman B, Klemstine KL, Brown PD.
Acute pyelonephritis in US hospitals in 1997: hospitalization and in-hospital mortality.
Annals of Epidemiology. 2003; 13: 144-150.

⁹

Sources for the information on this page:

Ramakrishnan K, Scheid DC.Diagnosis and management of acute pyelonephritis in adults.American Family Physician. 2005; 71: 933-942.

Horcajada JP, Smithson A.Acute pyelonephritis in adults: an update.Reviews in Medical Microbiology. 2003; 14: 119-127.

Bergeron MG.Treatment of pyelonephritis in adults.Medical Clinics of North America. 1995; 79: 619-649.

Car J.Urinary tract infections in women: diagnosis and management in primary care.BMJ. 2006; 332: 94-97.

Bass PF, Jarvis JA, Mitchell CK.Urinary tract infections.Primary Care. Clinics in Office Practice. 2003; 30: 41-61.

Warren JW, Abrutyn E, Hebel JR, et al.Guidelines for antimicrobial treatment of uncomplicated acute bacterial cystitis and acute pyelonephritis in women.Clinical Infectious Diseases. 1999; 29: 745-758.

U.S. National Library of Medicine.Medline Plus medical encylopedia: kidney infection (pyelonephritis).July 2006. Available at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000522.htm (accessed on 20 October 2008).

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Pyelonephritis (kidney infection) in adults.June 2007. Available at http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/pyelonephritis (accessed on 21 October 2008).

Foxman B, Klemstine KL, Brown PD.Acute pyelonephritis in US hospitals in 1997: hospitalization and in-hospital mortality.Annals of Epidemiology. 2003; 13: 144-150.

This information was last updated on Jan 08, 2009

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© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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