Kidney Stone Infection Led to Brain Abscess, Case Study Finds

The case centres on a staghorn calculus — a large, branching kidney stone that fills the internal collecting system of the kidney — which became chronically infected with a bacterium called Klebsiella pneumoniae. According to the journal, the infection did not simply persist; it changed. Over time, within the same patient, the bacteria developed new properties that made it better at spreading through the body, eventually reaching the brain and forming an abscess.

Brain abscesses are pockets of pus that develop inside brain tissue, usually as a result of infection travelling from elsewhere in the body. They are rare but serious.

The New England Journal of Medicine — one of the world’s most widely read medical journals — published the full case details. The report illustrates how a chronic, localised infection can, in some circumstances, evolve in ways that allow it to cause harm far beyond its original site. Staghorn calculi are associated with a higher risk of persistent infection because their complex shape makes them difficult to clear fully, either through antibiotics alone or surgical removal.

The NHS advises anyone with symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) — including a burning sensation when passing urine, needing to urinate more frequently, or urine that smells strongly or appears cloudy — to contact their GP or call NHS 111. Recurrent or hard-to-treat UTIs, especially in people known to have kidney stones, should always be assessed by a doctor rather than managed without professional advice.

If you are concerned about any symptoms, call NHS 111 or speak to your GP. In an emergency, call 999.