Failure to Follow Infection Control Practices and Proper Storage of Resident Care Items
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to adhere to infection control practices as observed during a complaint survey on one of two nursing units. Specifically, a Geriatric Nursing Assistant (GNA) was seen feeding one resident, then setting up another resident's breakfast tray, and returning to the first resident without sanitizing her hands between resident contacts. The same GNA was later observed feeding another resident, handling soiled breakfast trays, and entering another room without performing hand hygiene after contact with residents and contaminated items. Additionally, multiple resident bathrooms on the second-floor nursing unit were found to have uncovered, unlabeled, and improperly stored basins and urinals. Some basins contained used paper towels, soiled utensils, or were stacked inside each other without protective plastic. Dirty containers and soiled washcloths were also observed in several bathrooms. The Infection Control Nurse confirmed that basins should be cleaned, dried, labeled, and stored in plastic bags, but acknowledged that current practices did not meet these standards and that the only available policy addressed cleaning and returning bath basins to storage.