Encouraging fluid intake and good perineal hygiene in a client with a urinary tract infection most likely decreases the risk of which condition?

Promoting fluid intake and maintaining good perineal hygiene are vital practices for clients experiencing a urinary tract infection (UTI). These strategies help to flush out bacteria from the urinary system, which can significantly decrease the risk of pyelonephritis, an infection that ascends from the bladder to the kidneys.

By increasing fluid intake, the volume of urine is enhanced, which facilitates more frequent urination, thereby minimizing the time that bacteria have to multiply in the bladder. Good perineal hygiene also reduces the likelihood of introducing additional bacteria into the urinary tract, which can further complicate an existing infection and potentially lead to ascending infections like pyelonephritis.

In contrast, options like acute kidney failure, bladder cancer, and dehydration, while they can be influenced by urinary health, are not as directly impacted by the combination of fluid intake and perineal hygiene in the context of a UTI. Acute kidney failure may result from other acute issues or prolonged systemic infections, bladder cancer has a different set of risk factors, and while dehydration can occur from urinary tract issues, promoting fluid intake specifically targets the prevention of pyelonephritis more directly.