Deficient Infection Control in Linen, Laundry, and Waste Handling
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper handling and storage of linen and laundry, as well as proper disposal of garbage, in accordance with infection prevention and control standards and the facility's own policies. During a tour of the laundry area, surveyors observed an electric fan with heavy dust accumulation blowing air toward uncovered, clean resident clothing, and a floor littered with crumpled papers, candy wrappers, and dust. The laundry folding table, intended for clean clothes, was cluttered with personal items, food, and miscellaneous objects. Both the laundry staff and the Housekeeping Director confirmed these observations and acknowledged that the conditions did not meet cleanliness expectations. In the clean linen room, another electric fan with significant dust buildup was found blowing air onto uncovered, clean linens, blankets, towels, and gowns. The floor was also dusty, and a used surgical mask was found discarded on the floor. Additionally, three ceiling tiles showed dried brownish discoloration, identified as water condensation, directly above clean, uncovered linens. The Housekeeping Director confirmed that the fan should have been cleaned, garbage should not be on the floor, and the linens were now considered contaminated due to dust exposure. During inspection of a shower room, a wet, used washcloth was found on the floor of a shower cubicle, which the Housekeeping Director stated should have been properly disposed of by the CNA after use. The Infection Preventionist Nurse acknowledged responsibility for environmental rounds but did not provide an explanation for why these deficiencies were not previously identified. The facility's policy requires clean linen to be handled, stored, and transported in a sanitary manner to prevent contamination, which was not followed in these instances.