Question

A child is admitted to the hospital with a tentative diagnosis of meningitis, and a lumbar puncture is performed to confirm the diagnosis. What finding from the spinal fluid report should lead the nurse to conclude that bacterial meningitis is present?

1) Increased protein
2) Increased glucose
3) Decreased specific gravity
4) Decreased white blood cell count

Answer 1

Increased protein in the spinal fluid report suggests bacterial meningitis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The finding from the spinal fluid report that should lead the nurse to conclude that bacterial meningitis is present is increased protein. In bacterial meningitis, there is an inflammatory response in the meninges, which leads to an increase in the protein level in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This is due to the breakdown of cells and release of inflammatory mediators.