Infection Control Lapses in Specimen and Medication Storage Areas
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective infection prevention and control program as evidenced by two main deficiencies. First, the specimen refrigerator, which contained biological samples such as stool, urine, and blood, was stored in the same room as the ice container used for residents' oral consumption. The ice scooper was observed hanging on the wall, exposed to air, next to the ice container. Both the Registered Nurse Supervisor and the Infection Preventionist acknowledged that this arrangement posed a risk of infection spread and cross-contamination to residents consuming the ice. Second, in the medication storage room at Station 2, a drawer was found to be disorganized, containing a mix of lidocaine patch medications, specimen sample containers, unused needles, test tubes, a pair of unused socks, and a central line dressing kit. The Registered Nurse and Infection Preventionist confirmed that medications, needles, and sterile dressing kits should not be mixed with specimen containers and other items due to the risk of cross-contamination and infection. The Director of Nursing also acknowledged the infection control risk associated with this storage practice. The facility's infection control policy emphasized the importance of proper procedures and organization to prevent infection.