A 6-year-old child is admitted to the hospital with suspected bacterial meningitis. What is the nursing priority in the care of this child? Select all that apply.

A. Ensure the child is placed on droplet precautions is the priority because bacterial meningitis is highly contagious. Droplet precautions help prevent the spread of the infection to others in the hospital. B. Encouraging the child to drink plenty of fluids is not the priority in the acute phase of meningitis, as increased fluid intake may not be appropriate, especially if there is elevated intracranial pressure or vomiting. Fluid management should be carefully monitored by the healthcare team. C. Administering intravenous antibiotics is crucial because bacterial meningitis requires prompt treatment with antibiotics to prevent complications and reduce mortality. D. Providing comfort measures such as dimming the lights is important because the child may be sensitive to light, noise, and stimuli. A calm, quiet environment can help reduce discomfort and manage symptoms like headache and photophobia. E. Preparing the child for a CT scan of the head might be indicated if there are signs of increased intracranial pressure, but it is not the immediate priority. Initial treatment with antibiotics and managing the environment are higher priorities.