Improper Foley Catheter Drainage Bag Positioning and Lack of Cover
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a resident’s urinary drainage bag in accordance with its catheter care policy and professional standards of practice. The facility’s undated Catheter Care policy stated that catheter drainage bags would be covered at all times and that drainage would be located below the level of the bladder to discourage backflow of urine. Resident Identifier (RI) #77, admitted on an unspecified date, had diagnoses including protein-calorie malnutrition, chronic systolic congestive heart failure, and generalized muscle weakness. During an observation on 02/18/2026 at 9:26 AM, RI #77’s urinary drainage bag was seen placed on a blue mat on the floor and uncovered, contrary to the facility’s policy and accepted infection control practices. In a subsequent interview on 02/20/2026 at 11:01 AM, an LPN acknowledged that the catheter bag was not covered and stated that the facility’s protocol was for the Foley catheter drainage bag to be hooked to the bed frame, further acknowledging that placing the catheter bag on the floor could cause infection. Later that day at 12:25 PM, the ADON, who also served as the Infection Control Nurse, stated that staff should use a clamp to hook Foley catheter bags to the resident’s bed frame. The surveyors concluded that the observed practice of leaving the drainage bag uncovered and on the floor placed the drainage system at risk for contamination and the resident at risk of urinary tract infection, and failed to maintain the resident’s dignity as required by the facility’s policy.
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