Failure to Follow Infection Control Practices During Meal Distribution
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to follow infection control practices during meal distribution on the A-wing. During lunch service, a certified nursing assistant (CNA) was observed taking a meal tray into the room of a resident on enhanced barrier precautions, leaving the door open, and then returning the tray to the meal cart containing trays that had not yet been distributed. The CNA stated that it was acceptable to return the tray because it had not been placed directly in front of the resident and the trays were not touching. Additionally, another staff member placed a used meal tray, containing uneaten food and trash from a different resident, back onto the same cart with trays that had not yet been served. The director of nursing (DON) confirmed that all resident trays should be distributed before any used trays are retrieved and returned to the cart, citing infection control reasons. Facility policy reviewed by the surveyors stated that foods and beverages must be delivered in a manner to prevent contamination. These observations and staff interviews demonstrated a failure to adhere to established infection prevention and control protocols during meal service.