F0880

D

Failure to Perform Hand Hygiene During Dining Room Cleanup and Resident Assistance

Peoria, Arizona Survey Completed on 02-26-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves a failure to maintain proper hand hygiene during dining services, as observed during a lunch meal service. A CNA was seen clearing used plates and cups from dining tables, scraping leftover food into a trash can located in the dining area, and placing dirty dishes into a container bin. While doing so, the CNA’s hand was observed near the open trash can lid. Without performing hand hygiene in between these tasks, the CNA then wheeled residents out of the dining room in their wheelchairs, and subsequently returned to continue handling dirty dishes and trash before again assisting residents out of the dining area.

In interviews, the CNA stated that shower aides assist in the dining room with passing food and beverages and helping residents who need assistance with eating, and that she cleans the dining room by picking up dirty plates and then wheeling residents out as they finish. She reported using hand sanitizer located near the food service area and by the entrance, and acknowledged throwing empty milk cartons and food into the garbage, possibly opening the lid with her hand or foot, and sanitizing her hands after placing plates in the basin. Another CNA reported that she uses hand sanitizer in the dining room between residents, before leaving the dining room, and before touching wheelchair handles after residents finish eating. The IP and DON both stated that staff are expected to perform hand hygiene before and after resident care, when passing meal trays, after clearing plates and linens, and before touching residents or their wheelchairs, consistent with the facility’s Infection Prevention and Control Program policy, which requires hand hygiene by staff involved in direct resident contact.