For a client with suspected meningitis, which intervention should be prioritized?

In cases of suspected meningitis, starting broad-spectrum antibiotics is the most critical intervention. This is because bacterial meningitis can progress rapidly and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Administering antibiotics promptly is essential to eliminate the infection and improve patient outcomes, as delays in treatment can lead to severe complications, including brain damage and death.

While other interventions, such as performing a lumbar puncture, are important for diagnosis and might be required to confirm meningitis and identify the specific pathogen, they should not prolong the initiation of treatment with antibiotics. The lumbar puncture could also pose a risk if there is increased intracranial pressure, which is why it's sometimes avoided initially in acute cases.

Monitoring neurological status is indeed important and should be conducted continuously, but it is not a definitive intervention for treating the underlying cause. Administering NSAIDs may help relieve headache symptoms but does not address the critical need for initiating treatment of the infection, making it a lower priority.

Thus, starting broad-spectrum antibiotics should be prioritized to ensure immediate treatment of the potential infection while other diagnostic and supportive measures can be undertaken subsequently.