What is the most appropriate triage intervention for three adult patients presenting with high fever, rash, and recent exposure to a grocery store?

Initiating contact precautions is the most appropriate triage intervention in this scenario due to the patients' symptoms of high fever and rash, coupled with their recent exposure to a grocery store. These signs and symptoms might indicate a contagious infectious disease, such as measles or varicella, especially in the context of potential outbreaks or exposure to infected individuals.

By implementing contact precautions immediately, healthcare providers protect not only the patients but also other individuals within the healthcare facility. This intervention minimizes the risk of transmission of possible infectious agents to staff and other patients, enhancing overall safety within the clinical environment.

In this setting, options that involve scheduling follow-up visits or providing symptomatic treatment may not adequately address the immediate public health risks presented by the potential for contagious disease. Isolating each patient in separate rooms, while protective, is less effective than the proactive measure of initiating contact precautions at the first point of care, considering the wide-reaching implications of a potential outbreak. Therefore, starting contact precautions is crucial for controlling the possible spread of infection early on.