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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staff
Kidney infection typically occurs when bacteria enter your urinary tract through the urethra and begin to multiply. Bacteria from an infection elsewhere in your body also can spread through your bloodstream to your kidneys. Kidney infection is unusual through this route, but it can occur in some circumstances — for instance, when a foreign body, such as an artificial joint or heart valve, gets infected. Rarely, kidney infection results after kidney surgery.
- Pyelonephritis (kidney infection) in adults. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/pyelonephritis/. Accessed June 29, 2009.
- Urinary tract infections in adults. UrologyHealth.org. http://www.urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=07&topic=147. Accessed June 29, 2009.
- Schaeffer AJ, et al. Infections of the urinary tract. In: Wein AJ, et al. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/146625683-4/0/1445/0.html. Accessed June 29, 2009.
- Masson P, et al. Meta-analyses in prevention and treatment urinary tract infections. Infectious Disease Clinics of North America. 2009;23:355.
- Norris DL, et al. Urinary tract infections: Diagnosis and management in the emergency department. Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 2008;26:413.
- Neal DE. Complicated urinary tract infections. Urologic Clinics of North America. 2008;35:13.
- Urinary tract infections. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp050.cfm. Accessed June 30, 2009.
- Barbara Woodward Lips Patient Education Center. Urinary tract infection and kidney infection. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2004.
