Acute kidney injury (AKI) has now replaced the term acute renal failureand an universal definition and staging system has been proposed to allow earlier detection and management of AKI. The new terminology enableshealthcare professionals to consider the disease as a spectrum of injury. This spectrum extends from less severe forms of injury to more advanced injury when acute kidney failure may requirerenal replacement therapy (RRT). Clinically AKI is characterised by a rapid reduction in kidney function resulting in a failure to maintain fluid, electrolyte and acid-base homoeostasis. There have previously been many different definitions of AKI used in the literature which has made it difficult to determine the epidemiology and outcomes of AKI. Over recent years there has been increasing recognition that relatively small rises in serum creatinine in a variety of clinical settings are associated with worse outcomes.