What laboratory finding is expected in a client diagnosed with osteomyelitis?

In a client diagnosed with osteomyelitis, leukocytosis is an expected laboratory finding. Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone, which typically provokes an inflammatory response from the body. This response often includes an increase in white blood cell production as the immune system works to fight off the infection. Consequently, when a patient has osteomyelitis, tests will likely reveal an elevated white blood cell count, reflecting the body’s efforts to combat the infection.

Other choices highlight conditions that are inconsistent with the typical findings associated with osteomyelitis. For example, a decreased white blood cell count would not be expected, as that would indicate a possible immunocompromised state that is not typical in cases of active infection. Normal ESR levels, which measure inflammation in the body, would also be atypical, as osteomyelitis generally corresponds with elevated ESR due to the inflammatory process. Lastly, negative wound cultures might indicate that no infectious organism was found; however, in osteomyelitis, cultures usually yield positive results for pathogens if a sample is taken from the affected area. Overall, leukocytosis is the hallmark finding associated with the body's response to the infection present in osteomyelitis.