Failure to Follow Infection Control Practices for Oxygen Tubing
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a resident's oxygen tubing, specifically the nasal cannula that contacts the resident's face, was repeatedly observed lying on the floor while not in use. On multiple occasions, the tubing remained on the floor even after the resident had left the room, and it was not replaced despite being contaminated. The resident confirmed that staff sometimes rolled up the tubing and placed it on the machine, but at other times allowed it to remain on the floor, and that the tubing was not replaced when this occurred. Interviews with staff, including the ADON and CNAs, revealed that facility protocol requires oxygen tubing to be rolled up and stored on the machine when not in use, and that tubing found on the floor should be replaced. However, observations and resident statements indicated that these infection control practices were not consistently followed.