Failure to Follow Hand Hygiene and Glove-Changing Protocols During Food Service
Penalty
Summary
Dietary staff failed to follow proper hand hygiene and glove-changing procedures while preparing and serving food in the facility's kitchen and dining areas. Observations revealed that one dietary employee, while wearing gloves, served food to residents, touched potentially contaminated surfaces such as tray cards and residents' shoulders, and then returned to food preparation without removing gloves or washing hands. Another dietary employee was observed handling packaged hamburger buns, removing them from the microwave and packaging, and placing them on the steam table without changing gloves or washing hands between tasks. Both employees acknowledged during interviews that they should have removed gloves and washed hands between these activities, as per facility policy and their training. Facility policy requires handwashing before food preparation, after touching potentially contaminated surfaces, and when changing tasks to prevent cross-contamination. Interviews with the Assistant Dietary Manager and Dietary Manager confirmed that staff are expected to wash hands and change gloves in these situations. The failure to adhere to these procedures was observed directly by surveyors and acknowledged by the staff involved, indicating a lapse in compliance with established infection control practices. This deficiency had the potential to affect all residents receiving food from the kitchen.