Infection Control Deficiencies in Linen Handling and Wound Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper infection prevention and control practices in two separate instances involving two residents. In the first case, a certified nurse aide was observed exiting a resident's room carrying uncovered soiled linens with ungloved hands, allowing the linens to touch her body as she transported them through the hallway to the laundry room. The aide confirmed she did not use gloves or a bag for the linens, stating there were no bags available. Facility policy requires staff to wear gloves, minimize handling, and keep soiled linens covered and away from the body when transporting them. In the second instance, a licensed practical nurse performed wound care on a resident with multiple skin tears on both legs but did not change gloves or sanitize hands between treating the different wound sites. The nurse acknowledged this lapse and stated she should have changed gloves and sanitized hands between each wound treatment. The facility's hand hygiene policy specifies that hand hygiene should occur after contact with wound dressings. Both incidents were verified through staff interviews and policy review.