Failure to Perform Hand Hygiene After Contact with Contaminated Object During Incontinent Care
Penalty
Summary
During the provision of incontinent care for a resident with a history of traumatic brain injury, dysphagia, hypertension, and congenital hydrocephalus, a CNA failed to follow proper infection control procedures. After washing her hands, the CNA touched the privacy curtain to close it and did not sanitize her hands before putting on gloves and starting care. The CNA later confirmed she did not sanitize her hands after touching the curtain, believing it to be clean, despite having received training on incontinent care and infection control from the facility. The Director of Nursing confirmed that the privacy curtain is considered dirty and that staff are required to sanitize their hands after touching it and before donning gloves. The facility's policy on hand hygiene specifies that hand hygiene must be performed after handling contaminated objects and before applying personal protective equipment, including gloves. Review of the CNA's annual skills check indicated she had passed competency for perineal care and infection control earlier in the year.