A patient with neutropenia is admitted to the hospital. Which symptom should the nurse prioritize as a potential sign of infection?

A. Dizziness can occur for many reasons such as dehydration, low blood pressure, or medication side effects, but it is not a primary indicator of infection in a client with neutropenia. B. Fatigue is a common symptom of anemia, treatment effects (such as chemotherapy), or overall illness, but it is nonspecific and does not necessarily indicate infection. C. Fever is the most critical and often the only reliable early sign of infection in a client with neutropenia. Because neutropenic patients have a severely reduced white blood cell count, they cannot mount the typical inflammatory response to infection. Therefore, even a low-grade fever (≥ 38°C or 100.4°F) is considered an emergency requiring immediate evaluation and treatment with antibiotics. D. Weight loss is a gradual symptom that can result from chronic illness or poor nutrition but does not indicate an acute infection.