Failure to Follow Infection Control Practices During Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to infection prevention and control practices during medication administration for two residents. In one instance, an LPN withdrew insulin from a multi-use vial without disinfecting the vial top as required by facility policy, administered the injection, removed gloves, and did not perform hand hygiene afterward. The resident involved had diabetes and was unable to be assessed for mental status due to communication limitations. Facility policy mandates cleaning the vial with an alcohol wipe and performing hand hygiene immediately after glove removal, but these steps were not followed. In another instance, an LPN administered medications via a gastrostomy tube to a resident and used a stethoscope to verify tube placement. After completing the procedure, the LPN exited the room and signed out medications without cleaning the stethoscope, contrary to facility policy requiring reusable equipment to be cleaned and disinfected between residents. The resident had a gastrostomy and was also unable to be assessed for mental status. The DON confirmed during interview that the required infection control practices were not followed in both cases.