Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control in Resident Room
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program, resulting in a resident's room not being free of gnats. During an observation, a resident with significant medical needs, including a tracheostomy, supra-pubic catheter, colostomy, and quadriplegia, was found to have gnats flying around his tracheostomy collar, nebulizer tubing, and a cloth with mucus drainage on his chest. A cluster of gnats was also observed on the cloth and flying around the room. The resident was dependent on staff for all activities of daily living and was non-verbal at the time of the observation. Staff present during the observation, including a CNA and an LVN, were unaware of the cause of the gnats and indicated that maintenance would be notified. The Director of Nursing was not aware of the issue until informed during the interview. The Maintenance Director confirmed he was notified about the gnats and subsequently cleaned the room, but stated that no prior reports had been made regarding the presence of gnats in the resident's room. Review of facility policy indicated a requirement for an effective pest control program, which was not effectively implemented in this instance.