Emphysematous pyelonephritis is a severe necrotizing infection characterized by gas formation within the renal parenchyma, collecting system, and perinephric tissues.1, 2, 3 This condition commonly occurs in women with diabetes mellitus and obstructive uropathy.(1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Escherichia coli and Klebsiella are the most common organisms cultured.(1, 2, 3, 4, 5) Rarely, Candida species have been reported to cause emphysematous pyelonephritis.(6)
Case Report
A 51-year-old African-American transgender male with history of intravenous drug abuse presented to the emergency department with nausea, vomiting, and oliguria for 10 days. She had severe abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant and generalized weakness. She denied fever, dysuria, and flank pain.
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— Prasanna V. Krishnasamy, Christopher Liby III
This article originally appeared in the April 2010 issue of The American Journal of Medicine.
