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Case Reports
. 2022 Aug 10;14(8):e27856.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.27856. eCollection 2022 Aug.

Culture-Negative Emphysematous Pyelonephritis as a Complication of Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Report

Deborah Omoleye  1 , Muhammad A Israr  2 , Faria Tazin  3 , Salma Habib  4 , Shreeya Desai  2 , Camille Celeste Go  5 , Ayobami Aranmolate  1 , Odalys Frontela  6
Affiliations
Case Reports

Culture-Negative Emphysematous Pyelonephritis as a Complication of Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Report

Deborah Omoleye et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a severe, necrotizing infection of the renal parenchyma. It is commonly found as a complication of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM). EPN has a terrible prognosis unless promptly identified and treated. In this case study, a 38-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) was admitted due to complaints of excruciating abdominal pain, vomiting, and non-adherent to his insulin medication. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with EPN. For most patients, the current course of treatment includes nephrectomy along with antimicrobial medications. In this case report, however, the patient improved with conservative treatment such as IV fluids, antibiotics, and blood glucose control.

Keywords: acute kidney injury; antibiotic therapy; complicated pyelonephritis; e.coli; general internal medicine; general nephrology; hospitalized patients; infectious disease pathology; outpatient family medicine; uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. CT scan shows mild bilateral perinephric fat stranding (arrows).
Figure 2
Figure 2. CT scan shows mild bilateral perinephric fat stranding (arrows).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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