Failure to Follow Infection Control Protocols During Resident Care
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to adhere to infection prevention and control protocols in several instances involving residents with complex medical needs. In one case, a laboratory technician did not wear a gown while performing venipuncture on a resident under enhanced barrier precautions for dialysis and enteral tube care, despite physician orders and care plan interventions requiring gown and glove use for high-contact activities. The technician also failed to perform hand hygiene between contact with two residents, did not have hand sanitizer available, and did not wash hands before leaving the room after handling blood specimens and supplies. In another instance, an LPN disposed of a blood-contaminated glucometer strip in a resident's regular trash can and placed a used lancet in the nurse's cart trash, rather than using a sharps or biohazard container as required by facility policy. The LPN acknowledged not being trained to dispose of glucometer strips in sharps containers but was aware that lancets should be disposed of properly. These actions were observed during care for residents with diagnoses including diabetes, end stage renal disease, heart failure, and psychiatric disorders, all of whom were cognitively intact and did not reject care.