Deficient Infection Control Practices in Laundry Handling and Storage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain adequate infection control practices in the handling, processing, and storage of resident clothing and linen. During a tour of the laundry area, surveyors observed an overflow of soiled laundry in barrels that were in direct contact with the walls, and uncovered pillows, including one with a torn and unsanitary vinyl cover, stacked on top of an overflowing linen barrel containing bagged, unmarked clean clothing. The inside door of the dryer, which comes into direct contact with clean laundry, was found to have an unsealed, worn surface with a rust-colored substance, and the folding table used for clean laundry had peeling and missing laminate, exposing a porous and unsanitary surface. Additionally, the laundry floor had peeling vinyl and a crack related to a prior flood, further compromising the sanitary conditions of the area. Laundry staff were unable to identify the owners of the bagged, unmarked clean clothing and could not confirm whether the pillows were clean or soiled. Staff acknowledged that pillows should be sanitized and stored separately from soiled linen to prevent cross-contamination. Administrative staff reported that infection control surveillance did not include rounds in the laundry area, relying instead on housekeeping and maintenance staff to monitor their own departments. The facility's infection control policy required inspection rounds in all areas, but this was not being followed in the laundry department.