Soiled Towels Left on Shared Bathroom Floor Breach Infection Control Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to implement appropriate infection prevention and control practices when multiple used towels were left on the floor of a shared bathroom used by two residents for two days. One resident, who had diagnoses including nonrheumatic aortic valve stenosis, chronic atrial fibrillation, atherosclerotic heart disease, hypertensive urgency, chronic kidney disease stage II, and dementia, shared the bathroom with another resident diagnosed with cerebral infarction, chronic atrial fibrillation, peripheral vascular disease, hypothyroidism, sick sinus syndrome, and alcohol use. During observation, the shared bathroom door was open, and multiple used towels were piled on the floor under the sink in clear view of one resident lying in bed. That resident reported using the towels for cleaning herself, stated she did not know where to place the used towels, and confirmed they had remained under the sink for two days, expecting staff to pick them up. The other resident stated he did not like used towels on the floor because he might accidentally use them. CNA staff stated they were expected to ensure residents’ rooms were clean and that towels should not be left on the floor, acknowledging that soiled towels on the floor created an infection control concern, especially if another resident used them. A licensed nurse confirmed the presence of the pile of towels on the bathroom floor and stated that soiled towels should be placed in a plastic bag, closed, and then placed in a laundry bin outside the room to prevent contamination and spread of infection. The Infection Prevention Nurse and the Director of Nursing both stated that used towels should not be placed on the floor and should instead be bagged and placed in a soiled bin because they may contain hazardous material and could harbor germs and microorganisms. The facility’s Infection Prevention and Control Program policy indicated that an IPCP is to be established and maintained to provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections, including educating staff and ensuring adherence to proper techniques and procedures.
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