A nurse is caring for a child who has a suspected diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. Which of the following actions is the nurse's priority?

A. Antibiotics are essential but are administered after cultures to avoid interference. B. Blood cultures are important but not as immediate as infection control through isolation. C. Placing the child in isolation helps prevent the spread of meningitis, which is highly contagious. D. A lumbar puncture is diagnostic but follows isolation and initial assessments.