What lab result is expected in a lumbar puncture for a client with bacterial meningitis?

In cases of bacterial meningitis, the laboratory findings obtained from a lumbar puncture typically reveal elevated protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). This elevation occurs due to the inflammation of the meninges and the disruption of the blood-brain barrier, which allows proteins to leak into the CSF. The presence of bacteria and immune cells also contributes to this increase in protein concentration.

Further supporting this, the CSF in bacterial meningitis often shows a marked increase in white blood cells, predominantly neutrophils, along with low glucose levels, contrasting with findings in viral meningitis or non-infectious conditions. Hence, the elevated protein level is a classic hallmark of bacterial meningitis and serves to aid in distinguishing it from other types of meningitis or CNS disorders.