Acute kidney injury: What is it and how can it be prevented?

Acute kidney injury commonly starts in the community. Becky Bonfield explains how practice nurses can help to identify the condition to improve patient outcomes Acute kidney injury is a common and under-recognised disorder associated with both morbidity and mortality, which often leads to the development of chronic kidney disease (Lewington et al, 2013). While acute kidney injury was previously thought to be completely reversible, with no long-term health implications for patients who recovered, there is growing evidence that even a single transient acute kidney injury can lead to permanent organ damage (Coca et al, 2012). It is important for staff in primary care to be aware of acute kidney injury and its causes, as up to 65% of acute kidney injuries will start in the community setting (Selby et al, 2012). Being able to understand the common risk factors for acute kidney injury can assist in early diagnosis and treatment, which can improve patient outcomes.