AKI in a hospitalized patient with cellulitis

AKI occurs commonly in hospitalized patients with multiple comorbidities. In this Attending Rounds, a woman with AKI in the setting of an infection, use of antibiotics and other medications, bacteremia, and hypotension is considered. Such patients lead to a broad differential diagnosis for AKI including prerenal AKI, acute tubular injury/acute tubular necrosis, infection-related GN, and drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis. The roles of an accurate history, physical examination, laboratory data, and kidney biopsy are highlighted in establishing the correct diagnosis in such patients.