Hospital says Pele's condition is improving

Pele is responding well to antibiotics to treat a urinary tract infection and his condition is improving, doctors said.
The Albert Einstein hospital said the 74-year-old Pele remains in an intensive care unit undergoing "temporary" kidney treatment, but is "lucid" and breathing and eating normally without any support.
"Pele's clinical condition has been improving," the hospital said in its latest report.
Pele's personal adviser, Jose Fornos Rodrigues, confirmed Friday that Pele only has one kidney since the time he was a player, but said it was not affecting his treatment. Pele had surgery to remove the kidney back in the 1970s after complications from a broken rib.

"He had the kidney removed a long time ago, his body is already used to it, it's not a problem at all," Rodrigues told The Associated Press.
The Brazilian soccer great had surgery to remove kidney stones on Nov. 13. He was readmitted to the hospital on Monday after being diagnosed with the urinary tract infection.

Doctors continued to administer intravenous kidney treatment, a type of hemodialysis to filter waste particles from his blood.
The hospital's press office would not say if Pele's condition was affected because he has only one kidney. The hospital said there was no sign of a widespread infection.

"The only (type of) bacteria identified so far is sensitive to the antibiotics being administered," the hospital's statement said, adding that the three-time World Cup champion was not receiving any additional medication to keep him stable.