A nurse is triaging a child who has suspected bacterial meningitis. The nurse recognizes which of the following as the initial action?

A. Bacterial meningitis is highly contagious, and isolation precautions are necessary to prevent the spread of the infection to others. This should be the nurse's first action to protect both the child and others. B. While antibiotics are crucial in treating bacterial meningitis, initiating isolation protocols is the first priority to prevent transmission to others. C. A lumbar puncture is needed to confirm the diagnosis of meningitis, but isolation protocols should be established first to prevent spread. D. Blood cultures are important for diagnosing bacterial meningitis but are secondary to ensuring proper isolation to prevent contagion.