Acute renal failure can't always be prevented. Drugs that can damage the kidneys should be avoided. Persons with preexisting kidney disease need to be very careful to avoid certain medicines that are known to affect kidney function.
Most cases of acute renal failure will resolve with supportive therapy. Having had acute renal failure does not mean a person is at risk for long-term kidney damage. However, a person who has underlying kidney disease may not completely recover healthy kidney function. Sometimes, a person can develop progressive kidney damage as a result of acute renal failure and require long-term dialysis therapy.
Acute renal failure does not put other people at risk.