Failure to Follow Hand Hygiene and Glove Use During Food Service
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to follow proper hand hygiene and glove use protocols during food service in the facility's kitchen. Observations showed that a dietary aide entered the dining room, donned gloves without washing her hands, and assisted with plating and serving food to residents. She repeatedly left the dining room to go to the main kitchen and returned without changing gloves or performing hand hygiene, continuing to serve food. The dietary manager also participated in meal service without washing his hands, including after touching a resident and using the microwave, and did not change gloves during the process. Interviews with the dietary manager, dietary aide, and administrator confirmed that all had been trained on hand hygiene and infection control, and acknowledged the expectation for staff to wash hands before handling food and after any potential contamination. The facility's policy required handwashing before contact with food surfaces and as often as necessary to prevent cross contamination. The administrator verified that all residents consumed food from the kitchen and could be affected by these lapses.