[Obstruction of the upper excretory tract associated with primary urinary infection. Diagnosis, treatment and course. Apropos of 196 cases].

The association of upper urinary tract obstruction and urinary tract infection is a relatively common disease which requires early diagnosis and systematic treatment. The diagnosis of this disease can be difficult as many patients present with totally asymptomatic forms which may be revealed suddenly and totally unpredictably by an episode of severe infection. 196 (16%) of the 1,225 patients operated between January 1977 and June 1985 for upper urinary tract obstruction also presented with urinary tract infection at the time of admission. Suggestive urological signs were present in only 49% of the patients and infectious signs were present in 39%. 26 patients had acute renal failure and 9 presented at least 3 signs of severity. The bacteria most frequently isolated were E. coli (29% of M.S.U.s and 11% of blood cultures) and Proteus mirabilis (30% of M.S.U.s and 11% of blood cultures). Treatment always consisted of a combination of surgery and antibiotic therapy. Surgery was conservative in only 71% of patients at the first operation. 23 patients required specific symptomatic treatment due to the presence of signs of severity. Renal function, evaluated on the basis of the serum creatinine, was considerably improved by treatment, particularly in patients with acute renal failure on admission. In terms of bacteriological results, 92% of patients were discharged from hospital with sterile urine. 20% of the patients reviewed as outpatients had persistent urinary tract infection, generally caused by Proteus mirabilis. Three patients (1.5%) died, including 2 from the initial infectious syndrome.