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Acute focal bacterial nephritis
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  1. Tatsuji Maeshiro1,
  2. Akira Hokama2,
  3. Jiro Fujita1
  1. 1Department of Infectious, Respiratory, and Digestive Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
  2. 2Department of Endoscopy, University of the Ryukyus, Nishihara, Japan
  1. Correspondence to Professor Akira Hokama, hokama-a{at}med.u-ryukyu.ac.jp

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2014-205199

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    Description

    A 23-year-old woman presented with fever at 38.2°C, chills and right flank pain. She had felt the sensation of residual urine for 10 days. Physical examination revealed positive right costovertebral angle tenderness. The laboratory examination showed that white cell count and C reactive protein were elevated at 18 600/mm3 and 8.68 mg/dL, respectively. Urinalysis showed numerous white cells count. A CT scan disclosed a wedge-shaped decreased enhancement area without outer cortical contrast uptake (cortical rim sign) in the right kidney (figure 1). Acute focal bacterial nephritis (AFBN) was diagnosed and intravenous ceftriaxone was initiated. Escherichia coli grew on urine and blood cultures subsequently. She improved uneventfully and follow-up CT scans returned to normal findings.

    Figure 1
    Figure 1

    CT scan showing a wedge-shaped area with decreased enhancement in the right kidney.

    AFBN, previously known as acute lobar nephronia, has been recognised as localised infection of the kidney without abscess formation.1 It is speculated to be a middle disorder between uncomplicated pyelonephritis and renal abscess.2 Characteristic CT findings are inhomogeneous or wedge-shaped parenchyma with decreased enhancement.3 These features are crucial to differentiate AFBN from uncomplicated pyelonephritis, renal abscess and pyonephrosis, which may require different treatment strategies with more extensive interventions.3 The absence of cortical rim sign can be helpful in differentiating AFBN from renal infarction.4 E. coli is the most common causative bacteria of AFBN. Most cases respond well to conservative treatment with antibiotics.

    Learning points

    • Acute focal bacterial nephritis (AFBN) is a middle disorder between uncomplicated pyelonephritis and renal abscess.

    • AFBN may present inhomogeneous or wedge-shaped parenchyma with decreased enhancement on CT.

    • These CT features are crucial to differentiate AFBN from uncomplicated pyelonephritis and renal abscess, which may require different treatment strategies.

    References

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      . Acute focal bacterial nephritis (acute lobar nephronia). Radiology 1979;132:553–61.
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      . Evolution of acute focal bacterial nephritis into a renal abscess. Pediatr Nephrol 2005;20:93–5.
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      1. Soulen MC,
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      . Bacterial renal infection: role of CT. Radiology 1989;171:703–7.
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      . Imaging in upper urinary tract infections. Diagn Interv Imaging 2012;93:509–19.
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    View Abstract

    Footnotes

    • Contributors TM and AH treated the patient. TM wrote the manuscript. AH reviewed the manuscript. JF supervised the study.

    • Competing interests None.

    • Patient consent Obtained.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.