Failure to Follow Hand Hygiene and Glove Use Protocols During Soiled Material Transport
Penalty
Summary
Staff J, a Certified Nursing Assistant, failed to follow proper hand hygiene and glove use practices while handling soiled materials. On multiple occasions, Staff J was observed carrying soiled material in a plastic bag through the hallway to the soiled utility room while wearing gloves. During these instances, Staff J touched the soiled utility room door handle with soiled gloves, disposed of the gloves in a hallway garbage container, and then performed hand hygiene. Staff J stated that their process was to wear gloves while carrying soiled materials in the hallway and acknowledged touching the door handle with soiled gloves. Interviews with the facility's Infection Preventionist and Director of Nursing confirmed that staff are expected to bag soiled items, remove gloves, perform hand hygiene, and then transport the bagged items to the soiled utility room without wearing gloves in the hallway. Both staff members stated that wearing gloves in the hallway and touching door handles with soiled gloves is not permitted and poses a risk for spreading infection. The facility's policy requires effective methods for handling, storing, and transporting linens and waste to prevent the spread of infection, which was not followed in these observed instances.