Failure to Prevent Cross-Contamination During Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
During multiple dining observations, a resident was seen walking around the dining room and handling the coffee cups of other residents by touching the tops and rims while distributing them. This occurred during both lunch and breakfast meal services, with the resident picking up and handing out coffee cups to others, often gripping the cups around the top or rim. Staff members present in the dining area did not intervene or redirect the resident to prevent this contact, despite being aware that the resident regularly engaged in this behavior at every meal. Interviews with staff confirmed that the resident frequently assisted with coffee distribution and that staff did not take action to stop the resident from touching other residents' drinkware. The facility's Infection Preventionist acknowledged that such behavior was not in accordance with the facility's infection control protocols and that staff should have intervened to prevent possible transmission of infectious agents. The facility's infection prevention and control policy related to dining services was requested but not provided during the survey.