Coexisting bacterial pyelonephritis and bilateral ureteral fungus balls in a diabetic patient. Case report

Bacterial pyelonephritis is a common precipitating factor in the development of diabetic ketoacidosis. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial therapy usually result in resolution of constitutional symptoms and adequate control of serum glucose. However, occasional cases of presumed bacterial pyelonephritis may not respond to appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy, then causes should be sought such as obstruction or untreated fungal infections of the urinary tract. In this case a diabetic patient with classical pyelonephritis was found to have bilateral ureteral fungus balls as the underlying cause of refractory infection.