Soiled enteral feeding equipment
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment for residents receiving enteral tube feeding. Facility policy required reusable resident-care equipment, including feeding tube pumps, to be cleaned and disinfected, and used or dirty durable medical equipment such as feeding pumps to be stored in the soiled utility room. During review of records, observation, and interview, surveyors found multiple residents with enteral feeding pumps and poles that were visibly soiled with dried tan or brown substances, and in some cases appeared to have rust on the poles. Resident #4 had diagnoses including cerebral infarction, dysphagia, and aphasia, a BIMS score of 6, and was dependent on staff for eating and receiving enteral feeding. The resident’s feeding pump was observed infusing in the room on multiple occasions, and the base of the enteral feeding pole had dried, tan, unknown substances. The DON confirmed the pole base was splattered with dried enteral feeding and needed to be cleaned. Resident #65 had diagnoses including cerebral infarction, dysphagia, convulsions, and aphasia, was rarely/never understood, had severely impaired cognitive skills, and was dependent on staff for ADLs and enteral nutrition. The resident’s feeding pump was also observed infusing with dried tan substances splattered on the base of the feeding pole, and the DON confirmed it needed to be cleaned. Resident #64 had diagnoses including dysphagia, seizures, and hemiplegia, was severely cognitively impaired, and received enteral feeding and water through a pump. Surveyors observed a dry light brown substance on the pump and a dark brown substance resembling rust on the pole and base on repeated observations, and the Administrator and DON confirmed the pole should not have dry substance or rust and should be cleaned. Resident #77 had metabolic encephalopathy, hemiplegia, dysphagia, gastrostomy, and thyroid disorder, with severe cognitive impairment and dependence for all ADLs; the pump and pole had dried tan substances and brown areas that appeared to be rust, and the DON confirmed the pump and pole should have been cleaned and the pole replaced. Resident #161 had cerebral infarction, dysphagia, and gastrostomy, was rarely/never understood, severely cognitively impaired, and dependent on staff for ADLs and enteral nutrition; the feeding pole base was covered with dried tan substances, and the Administrator and DON confirmed it was covered with dried enteral feeding and should be replaced with a clean pole.
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