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Nephrolithiasis by Corynebacterium urealyticum infection: literature review and case report

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Abstract

Introduction

Alkaline-encrusted cystitis or pyelonephritis is a chronic inflammatory condition due to deposition of crystals usually caused by urea-splitting bacteria. Corynebacterium urealyticum (CU) is a gram-positive, urea-splitting and multi-antibiotic resistant bacillus with special tropism for the urinary tract and it is often associated with encrusted pyelocystitis.

Methods and Results

Here we report the case of a 75-year-old Caucasian man with a prolonged history of renal stones who was admitted for gross hematuria associated with renal failure. A diagnosis of encrusted pyelocystitis due to CU infection was made and the patient was appropriately treated.

Conclusions

At 6-month follow-up the patient was in good general conditions and asymptomatic. Signs of urinary tract infection or of renal calculosis were still detectable.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declared no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Genoa and IRCCS AOU San Martino-IST, Genoa, Italy

    Laura Cappuccino, Paolo Bottino, Adele Torricella & Roberto Pontremoli

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  1. Laura Cappuccino
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  2. Paolo Bottino
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  3. Adele Torricella
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  4. Roberto Pontremoli
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Correspondence to Roberto Pontremoli.

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Cappuccino, L., Bottino, P., Torricella, A. et al. Nephrolithiasis by Corynebacterium urealyticum infection: literature review and case report. J Nephrol 27, 117–125 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40620-014-0064-1

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