Failure to Follow Infection Control Practices During Medication Administration
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to adhere to proper infection prevention and control practices during medication administration for three of four observed residents. Specifically, a staff member did not perform hand hygiene prior to handling or administering medications to multiple residents. In one instance, a medication was dropped onto the medication cart surface, picked up with a plastic spoon, and placed in a medication cup without hand hygiene being performed or the cart surface being sanitized. Additionally, the staff member was observed touching various surfaces and resident items, such as a call light, water cup, and the resident's hand, without performing hand hygiene before administering medications. Interviews with staff confirmed awareness that hand hygiene should occur before and after resident contact, but review of facility training materials revealed no specific training on infection prevention during medication administration. Facility policies on medication administration and hand hygiene require handwashing before medication preparation and administration, and after contact with inanimate objects or glove use, but these procedures were not followed during the observed incidents.