[Glomerulonephritis in chronic bacterial infections]

Five patients with chronic bacterial infections (two with osteomyelitis, two with infected vascular prostheses, one with soft tissue abscess), but without endocarditis, developed signs of glomerulonephritis and renal failure. Histological examination in three revealed mainly proliferative glomerular alterations. The outcome of glomerulonephritis paralleled the course of infection. Recovery or marked improvement occurred in three patients in whom the infection was cured, one case with smoldering infection eventually developed endstage renal failure, and one with persistent infection died from severe complications with acute renal failure. If renal failure occurs in the setting of suppurative infection, so-called infection-associated glomerulonephritis must be considered. Prompt and effective eradication of infection has an important bearing on the course of renal function.