Urinalysis and Body Fluids 6th Edition by Majorie DiLorenzo, Susan Strasinger

Exercise 40

Differentiation between cystitis and pyelonephritis is aided by the presence of:

A. WBC casts

B. RBC casts

C. Bacteria

D. Granular casts

Step 1 of 2

Acute pyelonephritis:

• It is the infection of interstitium and tubules of kidney.

• It can be in acute or else chronic in nature.

• It is the ascending movement of bacteria from lower urinary tract infection into interstitium and tubules of kidney.

• Acute pyelonephritis symptoms are burning while urinating, frequent urination and lower back pain.

• Urinalysis results show leukocytes, bacteria, proteinuria and hematuria. It is similar to cystitis results.

• Added outcome of WBC (White Blood Cells) casts in result indicates infection in tubules. It is value for both chronic and acute pyelonephritis.

Therefore, discriminating pyelonephritis and cystitis is aided by presence of “WBC casts”. Hence, the correct answer is option .