Failure to Follow Droplet-Contact Isolation Precautions for Resident with Influenza
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a Nurse Aide (NA) failed to follow the facility's infection control policy and procedures regarding droplet-contact isolation precautions for a resident who had tested positive for influenza A. The facility's policy required that residents with influenza be placed on droplet-contact precautions for seven days, with specific instructions posted on the resident's door. These instructions included cleaning hands before entering and when leaving, and wearing a gown, face mask, and gloves upon entry, with removal of PPE before exiting. During a meal tray service observation, the NA entered the resident's room wearing only a face mask, without cleaning her hands or donning a gown and gloves as required by the posted instructions. The NA acknowledged awareness of the infection control training and the posted precaution sign but stated she had forgotten to follow the instructions before entering the room. Interviews with the Infection Preventionist, DON, and Administrator confirmed that the expectation was for staff to read and adhere to the posted droplet-contact precaution instructions before entering the room of a resident on isolation. The failure to follow these procedures was directly observed and confirmed through staff interviews.