A 28-year-old man presents to the ENT clinic with a 5-day history of severe sore throat, fever (38.9°C), and difficulty swallowing. On examination, the right tonsil is enlarged, erythematous, with yellowish exudate. The uvula is pushed to the left. Intraoral palpation reveals a bulge in the soft palate above the tonsil. The patient has trismus and a muffled voice. Which of the following is the most appropriate immediate management?