Clinical and laboratory features of the course of the urinary tract infection among children in the first three years of life at the current stage

Objective: To study main clinical and laboratory peculiarities of the course of urinary tract disease among children aged from newborns to 3 years old.Methods: Research design is a prospective controlled clinical research. 102 (60.71±3.77 %) children having urinary tract infection without accompanying abnormalities of the urinary system development were included in the first group. 66 (39.29±3.77 %) children having infection of the urinary tract amid congenital kidney defect.Results: Comparative evaluation of the results of complex examination of both groups showed that urinary tract infection is characterized by intoxication, pain and dysuric syndroms. The presence of accompanying kidneys and urinary tract abnormality development defined the latent course of the disease in every second child (59.09%) and supports the early development of renal infection (during first six months after birth).Conclusions: It’s necessary to conduct the search of diagnostics markers and predictors of the infection of the urinary tract among children of the first years of life, especially if there is an abnormality of the organs of urinary system.

Primary Subcapsular Reflux as an Etiology of Subcapsular Renal Abscess

Herein, we report two rare cases of renal infection. The first case was renal subcapsular urine reflux in a 8-month-old girl with recurrent urinary tract infection and the second was subcapsular abscess in a 14-year-old girl with diabetes, who was successfully treated with percutaneous drainage. It has been suggested that renal subcapsular abscesses could be caused by the direct reflux of urine into the subcapsular space, rather than spread of infection from an existing parenchymal lesion, and that complete recovery can be achieved if percutaneous drainage is performed in a timely manner. We propose primary subcapsular reflux, in which urine directly refluxes upwards into the subcapsular space of the kidney, as one of the mechanisms for development of renal subcapsular abscesses.

First Isolation of Leptospira Borgpetersenii Serovar Hardjobovis in Guanacos (Lama Guanicoe) in South America

Background Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonotic disease in the world. It is caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira spp. and is maintained in nature through chronic renal infection of carrier animals, being rodents and other small mammals the main reservoirs. This bacterial genus is highly heterogeneous and divided into three clades (pathogenic, saprophyte and intermediate). Presence of pathogenic strains in wildlife populations is essential to monitor the epidemiological status of this disease worldwide. Methods In this study, we characterize an isolated strain of a Guanaco (Lama guanicoe) using Multiple Locus Variable number tandem repeats Analysis (MLVA) (Variable Number Tandem Repeats-VNTRs: 4, 7, 10, Lb4 and Lb5). To confirm the identity of the isolated strain, partial 16S rRNA sequencing was carried out. Phylogeny was constructed using Neighbor- joining. Results The pathogenic leptospiral strain isolated from Llama guanicoe had the genetic profile identical to L. borgpetersenii serovar Hardjobovis reference strain Sponselee. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first isolation and genetic characterization of a pathogenic leptospiral strain in Guanacos in South America.

Gas-containing renal stones: a red flag for renal infection

Background Gas in the renal excretory system is described as a consequence of recent procedures but it can be a sign of severe conditions such as fistulas or infections; however, gas-containing renal stones are only rarely encountered. Purpose To describe the association of gas-containing renal stones and urinary tract infection. Material and Methods We performed a retrospective evaluation of the clinical and imaging findings in a series of six patients with gas-containing renal stones and compared our findings with those of patients with gas-containing renal stones reported in the literature. Urine and stone cultures were used as a diagnostic standard for urinary tract infection. Results Including the present series, there is a total of 21 patients with gas-containing renal stones in the literature. Based on clinical presentation, urinary tract infection could be suspected in 10 (57%) patients, while urine and/or stone cultures showed infection in 18 of 19 (95%) patients, with only one case with no bacterial growth in both (5%); in the remaining patient the information was not available. Conclusion Gas-containing renal stones are a rarely reported entity usually diagnosed with computed tomography. They are a radiological sign often associated with urinary tract infection that can also be encountered in patients with non-specific renal symptoms.

Сhronic kidney disease in children: principles of ambulatory management

Introduction. The term «chronic kidney disease» (CKD) is used to define the outcomes of various forms of chronic progressive kidney disease, characterized by kidney damage, or a decrease in their function for three months or more, regardless of the nosological diagnosis. The aim of the work was to determine the frequency, structure, and clinical and paraclinical features of CKD in children to substantiate the principles of its management in primary health care. Results. In CKD patients, tubulointerstitial renal lesions were established to prevail (80%). Associated with congenital malformations of the urinary system, reflux uropathy, and urolithiasis in 98% of cases tubulointerstitial renal lesions are complicated by renal infection. In 8.9% of children, CKD was formed as an outcome of glomerulopathies; in 6.7% of children - with congenital and hereditary nephropathies; in 4.4% of children an outcome of a hemolytic uremic syndrome. The observed children dominated by I-II (74.3%), less often III and IV (25.7%) stages of CKD. The revealed clinical and paraclinical features of CKD in children are presented. The modern principles of early diagnosis of CKD in children and the identification of risk factors for the progression of nephropathy have been substantiated. For the diagnosis of CKD in childhood there has been created a. n algorithm, including at the outpatient stage. Authors suggested a set of measures for the prevention of nephropathy. Conclusion. For early diagnosis of CKD in childhood there was developed an algorithm based on the analysis of a complex of clinical and paraclinical, structural and functional parameters of the kidneys in combination with the parameters of endothelial function and cytokine status.

An Unusual Presentation of Pyelonephritis: Is It COVID-19 Related?

In severe cases of COVID-19, late complications such as coagulopathy and organ injury are increasingly described. In milder cases of the disease, the exact time frame and causal path of late-onset complications have not yet been determined. Although direct and indirect renal injury by SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed, hemorrhagic renal infection or coagulative problems in the urinary tract have not yet been described. This case report describes a 35-year-old female without relevant medical history who, five days after having recovered from infection with SARS-CoV-2, had an unusual course of acute pyelonephritis of the right kidney and persistent fever under targeted antibiotic treatment. A hemorrhagic ureteral obstruction and severe swollen renal parenchyma preceded the onset of fever and was related to the developing pyelonephritis. Sudden thrombotic venous occlusion in the right eye appeared during admission. Symmetrical paresthesia in the limbs in combination with severe lower back pain and gastro-intestinal complaints also occurred and remained unexplained despite thorough investigation. We present the unusual combination of culture-confirmed bacterial hemorrhagic pyelonephritis with a blood clot in the proximal right ureter, complicated by retinal vein thrombosis, in a patient who had recovered from SARS-CoV-2-infection five days before presentation. The case is suspect of a COVID-19-related etiology.

Anti-Leptospira immunoglobulin profiling in mice reveals strain specific IgG and persistent IgM responses associated with virulence and renal colonization

Leptospira interrogans is a pathogenic spirochete responsible for leptospirosis, a neglected, zoonotic reemerging disease. Humans are sensitive hosts and may develop severe disease. Some animal species, such as rats and mice can become asymptomatic renal carriers. More than 350 leptospiral serovars have been identified, classified on the basis of the antibody response directed against the lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Similarly to whole inactivated bacteria used as human vaccines, this response is believed to confer only short-term, serogroup-specific protection. The immune response of hosts against leptospires has not been thoroughly studied, which complicates the testing of vaccine candidates. In this work, we studied the immunoglobulin (Ig) profiles in mice infected with L. interrogans over time to determine whether this humoral response confers long-term protection after homologous challenge six months post-infection. Groups of mice were injected intraperitoneally with 2×107 leptospires of one of three pathogenic serovars (Manilae, Copenhageni or Icterohaemorrhagiae), attenuated mutants or heat-killed bacteria. Leptospira-specific immunoglobulin (IgA, IgM, IgG and 4 subclasses) produced in the first weeks up to 6 months post-infection were measured by ELISA. Strikingly, we found sustained high levels of IgM in mice infected with the pathogenic Manilae and Copenhageni strains, both colonizing the kidney. In contrast, the Icterohaemorrhagiae strain did not lead to kidney colonization, even at high dose, and triggered a classical IgM response that peaked at day 8 post-infection and disappeared. The virulent Manilae and Copenhageni serovars elicited high levels and similar profiles of IgG subclasses in contrast to Icterohaemorrhagiae strains that stimulated weaker antibody responses. Inactivated heat-killed Manilae strains elicited very low responses. However, all mice pre-injected with leptospires challenged with high doses of homologous bacteria did not develop acute leptospirosis, and all antibody responses were boosted after challenge. Furthermore, we showed that 2 months post challenge, mice pre-infected with the attenuated M895 Manilae LPS mutant or heat-killed bacterin were completely protected against renal colonization. In conclusion, we observed a sustained IgM response potentially associated with chronic leptospiral renal infection. We also demonstrated in mice different profiles of protective and cross-reactive antibodies after L. interrogans infection, depending on the serovar and virulence of strains.

An Unusual Presentation of Pyelonephritis: Is it COVID-19 Related?

IntroductionIn severe cases of COVID-19, late complications such as coagulopathy and organ injury are increasingly described. In milder cases of the disease, the exact time frame and causal path of late onset complications has not yet been determined. Although direct and indirect renal injury by SARS-CoV-2 has been confirmed, hemorrhagic renal infection or coagulative problems in the urinary tract have not yet been described.Case PresentationThis case report describes a 35-year-old female without relevant medical history who, five days after having recovered from an infection with SARS-CoV-2, had an unusual course of acute pyelonephritis of the right kidney and persistent fever under targeted antibiotic treatment. A hemorrhagic ureteral obstruction and severe swollen renal parenchyma preceded the onset of fever and was related to the developing pyelonephritis. Sudden thrombotic vascular occlusion in the right eye appeared during admission. Symmetrical paresthesia in de limbs in combination of severe lower back pain and gastro-intestinal manifestation was documented and not been explained despite of intensive investigation.ConclusionWe present the unusual combination of culture confirmed bacterial hemorrhagic pyelonephritis with a blood clot in the proximal right ureter, complicated by a retinal venous thrombosis, in a patient who had recovered from SARS-CoV-2-infection five days before presentation. The case is suspect of a COVID-19 related etiology.

The COVID-Kidney Controversy: Can SARS-CoV-2 Cause Direct Renal Infection?

Context: Determining whether SARS-CoV-2 causes direct infection of the kidneys is challenging due to limitations in imaging and molecular tools. Subject of Review: A growing number of conflicting kidney biopsy and autopsy reports highlight this controversial issue. Second Opinion: Based on the collective evidence, therapies that improve hemodynamic stability and oxygenation, or dampen complement activation, are likely to ameliorate acute kidney injury in COVID-19. At this time, whether inhibition of viral infection and replication directly modulates kidney damage is inconclusive.

SARS-CoV-2-Associated Nephropathy: Direct Renal Infection and Damage

Acute kidney injury is a frequent complication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), principally because of hypotension and decreased kidney perfusion secondary to haemodynamic or haemostatic factors, drug-induced nephrotoxicity, and cytokine storm syndrome related to sepsis. Additionally, several factors support the existence of SARS-CoV-2-associated nephropathy, such as early, new-onset proteinuria and haematuria in many patients, the identification of SARS-CoV-2 viral load in precisely defined kidney compartments, ultrastructural and immunohistochemical evidence of direct viral infection of the kidneys, and, most importantly, morphological alterations associated with cytopathic action induced by the virus. In addition, collapsing glomerulopathy that has been reported in patients of African American descent with underlying apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) kidney risk alleles and SARS-CoV-2 infection is evidence of a distinct form of SARS-CoV-2-associated nephropathy, the APOL1-SARS-CoV2-associated nephropathy.