Failure to Follow Transmission-Based Precautions for COVID-19
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to maintain proper infection prevention and control measures for a resident diagnosed with COVID-19. During an observation, a yellow disposable isolation gown was found hanging on a hallway rail outside the resident's room, which was under droplet/COVID precautions. The posted sign indicated that staff should wear an N95 mask, gown, and face shield or goggles to enter the room. According to interviews, the expectation was that personal protective equipment (PPE), including gowns, should be disposed of after use and not left exposed in the hallway. An LPN confirmed that the gown should have been discarded in a bin after use, and the DON stated that all PPE must be worn inside the resident's room and removed before exiting to the main hall. The resident had been isolated to their room for 14 days following a positive COVID-19 diagnosis upon return from the hospital. The failure to properly dispose of the isolation gown and adhere to transmission-based precautions constituted a breach in the facility's infection control program.