Failure to Follow Infection Control Guidelines for Resident's Visiting Sick Cat
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to follow infection control guidelines regarding a resident who had a sick cat visiting and staying in their room. The resident, who was cognitively intact and had multiple medical diagnoses including spondylosis, dysphagia, sepsis, and muscle weakness, did not have a physician order or care plan entry for pet therapy or pet presence at bedside. Documentation showed that the cat, which had undergone chemotherapy, was present on the resident's bed and had left feces and urine stains. The facility's policy required that animals be monitored to prevent the spread of infection and that personal pet visits be approved by the resident's physician and primary care nurse, but these steps were not followed. No immunization records for the cat were available, and the cat's presence and condition were not properly managed according to policy. Interviews with staff revealed inconsistent knowledge and enforcement of the pet policy. The administrator acknowledged that the cat was allowed to stay with the resident under certain conditions, such as being kept in a crate and not having a litter box in the room, but these conditions were not consistently enforced. Staff were not able to provide required documentation for the cat, and there was evidence of noncompliance with infection control protocols, including the presence of animal waste in the resident's room. The facility's infection prevention and control program policies were not adhered to in this instance.