Improper Handling of Multi-Dose Wound Cleanser During Wound Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow infection control guidelines regarding the use of a multi-dose bottle of wound cleanser during wound care for two residents. Observations showed that a registered nurse/treatment nurse used the same bottle of wound cleanser to spray directly onto the wounds of two different residents, holding the bottle close to each wound. After each use, the nurse placed the bottle back onto the treatment cart and into a drawer without disinfecting it or placing it in a protective container to prevent cross-contamination. Interviews confirmed that the same bottle was used for both residents without any sanitization between uses. The nurse acknowledged this practice, and the director of nursing indicated that the wound cleanser should not have been used in this manner. The report references CDC guidelines, which state that multi-dose wound care products should be dedicated to individual residents or handled in a way that prevents cross-contamination, which was not followed in these instances.