A renal abscess can be caused by bacteria from an infection that’s gotten to the kidneys. The bacteria can travel through the blood or in urine backing up into the kidney. In the kidney, the bacteria can spread to the kidney tissue.
A renal abscess is not a common disease. It often occurs as a result of common problems such as:
Kidney inflammation
Stone disease
Urine flowing backwards into the kidney from the bladder (“vesicoureteral reflux”)
A renal abscess can sometimes form from infection in other parts of the body. Abscesses in the skin and intravenous drug abuse can also lead to renal abscess.
Complicated urinary tract infections can also put a person at risk for renal abscess if linked to:
Stones
Pregnancy
Neurogenic bladder
diabetes mellitus
You can help prevent renal abscess by having any bacterial or urinary tract infections (UTI) treated right away.