Ascending pyelonephritis with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in mice.

Elastase- and protease- producing strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa induced ascending pyelonephritis in mice by intracystic challenge. The pelvis was the site of primary foci development and necrotic, purulent lesions spread from the pelvis to the perihilar area and to the cortex. Severe necrosis was a characteristic of the present infection and caused systemic infection and host death without the development of chronic lesions. In animals challenged with inocula great enough to destroy the cystic mucosa, immediate hematogenous systemic infection without cellular responses led to host death.