Failure to Follow Infection Control Protocols During Blood Glucose Monitoring
Penalty
Summary
Staff member C failed to follow proper infection control practices during blood glucose monitoring for two residents. Specifically, staff member C did not perform hand hygiene before donning gloves prior to testing a resident's blood glucose. After completing the blood glucose monitoring, staff member C placed the handheld glucometer on various surfaces, including a supply cart and the medication cart, without cleaning or sanitizing the device between uses or after use. The glucometer was then returned to the locked supply room and placed on the charger without being disinfected. Interviews with staff members confirmed that the facility's policy requires the glucometer to be disinfected with appropriate wipes between each resident use and after the last use before returning it to the charger. Staff also acknowledged that hand hygiene should be performed before donning gloves and after glove removal. Despite this, staff member C did not adhere to these protocols, as observed and confirmed during interviews. The facility's policy, last revised in February 2024, clearly outlines these infection prevention requirements.