A patient who is hospitalized with IE develops sharp left flank pain and hematuria.The nurse notifies the physician,recognizing that these symptoms may indicate which of the following complications?

Question

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The sharp left flank pain and hematuria may indicate that there is a vegetative embolus that has lodged in the renal artery, leading to ischemia and infarction of the kidney tissue. This complication can occur in patients with IE when the vegetations on the heart valves break off and travel to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. Bacterial colonization in the kidneys (A) may cause urinary tract infections, but these usually do not present with flank pain and hematuria. Septicemia resulting in decreased glomerular blood flow (C) may cause acute kidney injury, but it is unlikely to present with flank pain and hematuria. Hemolysis of red blood cells by hemolytic microorganisms (D) may occur in some cases of IE, but it is not a common cause of flank pain and hematuria.

A Patient Who Is Hospitalized with IE Develops Sharp Left