Failure to Follow Infection Control Practices During Catheter Care and Laundry Delivery
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when an LPN provided catheter care to a resident with an indwelling urinary catheter without wearing a gown, contrary to the facility's Enhanced Barrier Precautions policy. The policy requires the use of gowns and gloves during high-contact care activities for residents with indwelling medical devices, regardless of MDRO colonization status. The resident involved had diagnoses including obstructive and reflux uropathy and retention of urine, and was assessed as moderately impaired in cognition. Both the LPN and the DON confirmed that a gown should have been worn during this care activity. Another deficiency was observed when laundry personnel delivered clean personal laundry to residents using an uncovered cart. The laundry cart cover was unavailable because it was being washed, but the staff proceeded to deliver laundry to several rooms without it. The laundry personnel acknowledged that laundry should be covered during delivery, and the laundry supervisor confirmed this expectation.