Which CSF finding is most characteristic of bacterial meningitis?

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Multiple Choice

Which CSF finding is most characteristic of bacterial meningitis?

Explanation:
In bacterial meningitis, the bacteria and the inflammatory cells in the CSF consume glucose, and the inflammatory process increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. This leads to hypoglycorrhachia, so the CSF glucose is decreased relative to the serum (often defined as CSF glucose <40 mg/dL or a CSF-to-serum ratio <0.4). This is why low CSF glucose is the most characteristic finding. Elevated or normal CSF glucose would not fit the typical bacterial pattern, and while CSF protein is usually elevated due to barrier dysfunction, a decreased protein level is not characteristic of bacterial meningitis.

In bacterial meningitis, the bacteria and the inflammatory cells in the CSF consume glucose, and the inflammatory process increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier. This leads to hypoglycorrhachia, so the CSF glucose is decreased relative to the serum (often defined as CSF glucose <40 mg/dL or a CSF-to-serum ratio <0.4). This is why low CSF glucose is the most characteristic finding.

Elevated or normal CSF glucose would not fit the typical bacterial pattern, and while CSF protein is usually elevated due to barrier dysfunction, a decreased protein level is not characteristic of bacterial meningitis.

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