PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

What stone is commonly associated with urinary tract infections leading to infection-based urinary complications?

1. Calcium oxalate stones

2. Uric acid stones

3. Struvite stones

4. Cystine stones

The correct answer is: Struvite stones

Struvite stones are commonly associated with urinary tract infections, primarily because they are formed in response to the presence of certain bacteria that produce urease. This enzyme hydrolyzes urea into ammonia, thereby increasing the pH of the urine and leading to the precipitation of magnesium, ammonium, and phosphate, which form struvite crystals. The presence of these stones is indicative of chronic urinary tract infections, often caused by organisms like Proteus mirabilis, which are capable of producing urease. This relationship is significant because struvite stones can lead to serious infection-based urinary complications. They can grow rapidly and may form staghorn calculi, which can obstruct the urinary tract and create a pathway for further infections, thereby complicating the clinical picture. Understanding this pathophysiological mechanism emphasizes the importance of managing urinary tract infections effectively to prevent the formation of struvite stones and the associated complications.