Failure to Prevent Cross Contamination in Shared Bathrooms and Laundry Areas
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to properly label residents' basins and urinals in shared bathrooms on the second floor, resulting in the potential for cross contamination of bodily fluids. During observation rounds, multiple unlabeled basins and a urinal were found in shared bathrooms between resident rooms. When questioned, a Geriatric Nursing Assistant stated that staff typically write room numbers on basins to identify ownership, but this was not done at the time of observation. The Assistant Director of Nursing/Infection Preventionist acknowledged the issue and indicated that it had been previously addressed with staff. Additionally, the facility did not ensure that clean linens were kept separate from contaminated linens in the laundry area. The dividing wall between the dirty and clean laundry rooms was damaged, with exposed wall frames and a gap caused by water damage. Grey water was observed splashing onto the drywall, saturating it and extending moisture to the ceiling. The washing machine drain line was improperly supported, and the washing machines themselves had significant residue buildup on both interior and exterior surfaces. Staff acknowledged the accumulation and the need for cleaning.