Microbiology Results:  Urine Culture Negative for Cells or Bacteria

Instructor's Notes:  Laboratory results show an elevated WBC, probably due to stress on the body from illness.  The metabolic acidosis is causing an electrolyte imbalance which affects the sodium (Na), potassium (K), and chloride (Cl).  The electrolyte imbalance is very dangerous as it may induce fibrilation of the heart, coma, and death.  Bun and Creatinine are kidney function tests and indicate stress is being placed on the kidneys. Blood glucose levels are extremely elevated.  The kidneys cannot reabsorb all of the glucose causing the excess glucose to spill into the urine.  This results in abnormally high levels of glucose in the urine.  When the body cannot get adequate fuel from carbohydrate breakdown, it breaks down fats and protein.  Byproducts of fat and protein breakdown are organic acids called ketone bodies.  When ketone bodies accumulate in the blood, the pH of the blood drops causing a condition called ketoacidosis.  In this case, the metabolic acidosis, reflected in the blood gas results, is caused by the accumulation of ketone bodies.