Failure to Follow Droplet Precautions and Proper Disinfection of Glucometer
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to follow droplet precautions for a resident who was placed on isolation due to possible exposure to whooping cough. Despite a sign on the door indicating droplet precautions, an LPN entered the resident's room multiple times without wearing required eye, nose, or mouth protection to take vital signs and administer medications. The LPN acknowledged forgetting to use the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and confirmed the resident was on droplet precautions due to the exposure. The facility's policy required healthcare personnel to wear a facemask for close contact with an infectious resident and additional PPE if there was a risk of exposure to mucous membranes or respiratory secretions. Additionally, staff failed to properly disinfect a blood glucose monitoring machine after use on a resident with diabetes and other significant health conditions. The LPN used expired wipes that did not contain bleach to clean the glucometer, which was not in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions or facility policy. The DON confirmed that the wipes used were not approved for disinfecting the glucometer and were not purchased by the facility. This failure had the potential to affect multiple residents who received blood glucose monitoring on the same hallway.