Failure to Follow Enhanced Barrier Precautions During Indwelling Device Care
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain compliance with its own infection prevention and control program by not following Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) for a resident with indwelling medical devices. According to the facility's EBP policy, staff are required to wear both gloves and a gown when performing high-contact care activities, such as tracheostomy care and feeding tube care, for residents with indwelling devices or a history of multidrug-resistant organisms. The policy was in effect at the time of the incident and was clearly posted outside the resident's room, specifying the use of gloves and gowns for these activities. During observation, an LPN provided care to a resident with a tracheostomy and a PEG tube, both of which are considered indwelling medical devices. The LPN changed the inner cannula of the tracheostomy and the dressing on the PEG tube, wearing gloves but not a gown as required by the facility's policy. The Director of Nursing confirmed that gowns were required for these procedures. No additional information or mitigating factors were provided during the survey process.