Failure to Maintain Effective Infection Control in Housekeeping Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective infection prevention and control program on one of two units, as evidenced by improper cleaning and disinfection practices by housekeeping staff. Observations revealed that a housekeeper did not follow correct cleaning techniques, such as failing to disinfect high-touch areas like bed remotes, call lights, and light switches, and not using separate clean rags for each side of a double occupancy room. The housekeeper also cleaned the toilet from bottom to top instead of the required top to bottom (clean to dirty) method, and did not consistently perform hand hygiene after glove removal and before donning new gloves. Interviews with the housekeeper and supervisory staff confirmed gaps in knowledge and practice. The housekeeper was unaware of the need to perform hand hygiene with every glove change and did not identify all required high-touch areas for disinfection. Supervisory staff, including the housekeeping supervisor, infection preventionist, and director of nursing, all acknowledged that the correct procedures were not followed, including the use of separate rags for each resident area, proper cleaning sequence for toilets, and the need for hand hygiene with glove changes. The facility's own policy required cleaning all high-touch personal use items with disinfectant and performing hand hygiene after glove removal, which was not adhered to during the observed cleaning process. These failures in cleaning technique, use of supplies, and hand hygiene contributed to the deficiency in the infection prevention and control program.