Failure to Follow Infection Control Practices for Shared Equipment and Oxygen Devices
Penalty
Summary
Nursing staff failed to implement proper infection prevention and control practices in multiple instances involving shared resident care equipment and oxygen delivery devices. During observations, staff did not disinfect shared blood pressure cuffs and a glucometer according to the manufacturer's specified contact time using Sani-Cloth disposable wipes. Specifically, staff were seen wiping equipment but not allowing the required two-minute wet contact time, and in some cases, did not disinfect the equipment between uses on different residents. Additionally, a resident with a history of deep vein thrombosis and an as-needed order for oxygen via nasal cannula was found to have the oxygen tubing stored inside the upper drawer of the bedside nightstand, rather than in a plastic bag as required by facility policy. The resident reported not having used the oxygen for two weeks, and staff interviews confirmed the tubing should have been stored in a plastic bag when not in use to prevent infection. Facility policies reviewed indicated that reusable resident-care equipment must be cleaned and disinfected after each use, and that oxygen delivery devices should be kept covered in a plastic bag when not in use. Staff interviews further confirmed expectations for following these procedures, but observations revealed lapses in adherence, creating the potential for cross-contamination and infection among vulnerable residents.