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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Diagnosed UTI. On Antibiotics. Having Fever, Chills, Sweating. Has Infection Transferred To Kidney? Further Treatment?

Hi, Needed your advise. My mother aged 61 yrs has been diagnosed with Urinary Tract Infection 15 days back. She has been on antibiotics for about 8 days. Of late, past 4 days she has started developing fever , with chills and sweating inspite of being on antibiotics. Wanted to know if this indicates a transfer of infection from urinary tract to kidney? What should be the next course of action?
Wed, 6 Mar 2013
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello and welcome to HCM.

Thank you for your query.

A UTI is diagnosed not just with a clinical presentation, but also with the help of a urine analysis and urine culture. As you have not mentioned these in your query, I would like to make sure these were conducted.

Once the infection is confirmed, the urine culture helps in providing information on the best and most suitable antibiotic that can be used to treat the infection. A blind prescription without information on the antibiotics might result in a patient suffering for a longer time (if they are resistant to that particular antibiotic).

Once the most suitable antibiotic is started, it should help in relieving the symptoms within 24-48 hours of initiation. Clearly, this is not the case with your mother. The reasons for this could be: antibiotic which your mother is resistant to; inadequate dosage or duration of medications; a less appropriate antibiotic.

Even if the infection has spread to the kidneys, there should be a response to the antibiotic of some kind at least. I request you to please go over all the details with the doctor. Conduct all the required tests, and also conduct an ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis to visualize the condition of the kidneys and the urinary tracts.

I hope I have succeeded in providing the information you were looking for. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications. I would gladly help you.

Best wishes.
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Diagnosed UTI. On Antibiotics. Having Fever, Chills, Sweating. Has Infection Transferred To Kidney? Further Treatment?

Hello and welcome to HCM. Thank you for your query. A UTI is diagnosed not just with a clinical presentation, but also with the help of a urine analysis and urine culture. As you have not mentioned these in your query, I would like to make sure these were conducted. Once the infection is confirmed, the urine culture helps in providing information on the best and most suitable antibiotic that can be used to treat the infection. A blind prescription without information on the antibiotics might result in a patient suffering for a longer time (if they are resistant to that particular antibiotic). Once the most suitable antibiotic is started, it should help in relieving the symptoms within 24-48 hours of initiation. Clearly, this is not the case with your mother. The reasons for this could be: antibiotic which your mother is resistant to; inadequate dosage or duration of medications; a less appropriate antibiotic. Even if the infection has spread to the kidneys, there should be a response to the antibiotic of some kind at least. I request you to please go over all the details with the doctor. Conduct all the required tests, and also conduct an ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis to visualize the condition of the kidneys and the urinary tracts. I hope I have succeeded in providing the information you were looking for. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications. I would gladly help you. Best wishes.