retroperitoneal abscess

Etiology

• coliform organisms
  • Escherichia coli
• Streptococcus
• Staphylococcus
• anaerobes
• may be polymicrobic
• Escherichia coli & Proteus predominate in perinephric abscess

Clinical manifestations

• insidious, occult illness
• intermittent spiking fever
• flexed hip position seems to relieve pain

Radiology

• computed tomography

Complications

• mortality > 70% with positive blood cultures

Management

• appropriate antibiotics
  • antibiotics alone generally sufficient for renal abscesses < 3 cm
• radiologic percutaneous drainage in selected cases
• surgical drainage in more complicated cases

More general terms

• abscess
• retroperitoneal infection

More specific terms

• perinephric abscess
• renal abscess