Exhibits A nurse in an emergency department is caring for a 3-month-old infant. Which of the following actions should the nurse take?

A. Administer ceftriaxone. Correct. The CSF analysis shows elevated pressure, cloudy appearance, increased WBC count, elevated protein, and decreased glucose levels, which are indicative of bacterial meningitis. Ceftriaxone is a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is commonly used to treat bacterial meningitis, especially in infants and young children. Immediate administration of antibiotics is crucial to treat the infection and prevent complications. Other Options: B. Initiate serum glucose testing every 1 hr. Incorrect. Although the CSF glucose is low, this finding is associated with bacterial meningitis rather than a primary glucose metabolism issue in this context. Regular glucose monitoring every 1 hour is not warranted for managing meningitis. The priority is to address the underlying infection with antibiotics. C. Administer pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Incorrect. Vaccination is a preventive measure, not an immediate treatment for an ongoing infection. This infant likely already needs treatment for a current infection, and vaccination would be inappropriate at this stage. D. Initiate neutropenic precautions.Incorrect. Neutropenic precautions are used for patients with significantly low neutrophil counts to prevent infection. The CSF results do not suggest neutropenia; instead, they suggest an active bacterial infection. The focus should be on treating the infection, not on precautions for low neutrophil count.