Failure to Maintain Infection Control for Enteral Feeding Tubes
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow infection control standards and procedures for two residents receiving enteral tube feedings. For one resident with multiple sclerosis and a gastrostomy, observation revealed the feeding tube was left uncapped and leaking on the feeding pump, with dry residue noted on the pump surface. The resident's care plan identified risks related to the gastrostomy tube, including the need for daily cleansing and monitoring for infection, but these precautions were not observed during the survey. Physician orders specified continuous enteral feeding, and the resident was dependent on activities of daily living and received more than half of nutritional intake via tube feeding. For another resident with a gastrostomy, multiple observations showed enteral feeding tubing caps stored uncovered on the bedside chair, both when the feeding was inactive and running. Staff interviews indicated that the standard practice was to clean and cap the feeding equipment and store unused caps in a sanitary manner, but this was not followed as evidenced by the uncovered caps. The Director of Nursing confirmed that feeding tubes should always be capped or placed in a protective bag if a cap is unavailable, acknowledging the infection control concerns presented by the photographic evidence.