Inspection Findings:
3. The facility's Hand Hygiene Policy, last revised 12/15/21, indicated hand hygiene was the primary means of preventing the transmission of infection.
On 8/12/24 between the hours of 12:11 PM and 12:30 PM, during the lunch meal in the main dining room and residents' lunch tray pass on the Annex Hall, the following observations were made:
-12:18 PM Staff 26 (CNA) was observed in the main dining area wearing a surgical mask which was below her nose. Staff 26 adjusted her surgical mask and then assisted a resident to prepare and set-up their lunch tray. No hand hygiene was performed. Staff 26 was, again, observed with her surgical mask below her nose, adjusted her mask and then assisted another resident to prepare and set-up their tray, touching the resident's silverware and tray items. No hand hygiene was completed after adjusting her mask or between assisting residents.
-12:25 PM Staff 27 (CNA) was observed passing beverages on Annex Hall. Staff 27 entered room 110, adjusted the resident's bedside table and moved objects on the table prior to placing the beverage down. Staff 27 was observed repeating this process for residents' in rooms 113, 114, 116 and 119. Staff 27 did not complete hand hygiene after exiting or before entering any of the residents' rooms.
On 8/12/24 at 12:22 PM Staff 26 stated she was not supposed to touch her surgical mask but if she did, she was supposed to complete hand hygiene. Staff 26 confirmed she did not complete hand hygiene after touching her mask or between residents.
On 8/12/24 at 12:31 PM Staff 27 stated he was supposed to complete hand hygiene after touching "something" belonging to a resident. Staff 27 stated he tried to do as much hand hygiene as possible but did not always consistently perform hand hyiene.
On 8/16/24 at 8:35 AM and 10:01 AM Staff 1 (Administrator), Staff 2 (DNS) and Staff 3 (Interim DNS) stated staff were expected to complete hand hygiene each time they went in and out of a resident's room. Staff 1 and Staff 2 stated they also expected hand hygiene to be completed after touching something dirty and before touching something clean.
, Based on observation, interview, and record review it was determined the facility failed to follow infection control standards for 2 of 4 halls (East and Annex Halls), 1 of 1 dining room, and 2 of 4 sampled residents (#s 28 and 37) reviewed for dining and skin conditions. This placed residents at risk for exposure and contraction of infectious diseases. Findings include:
1. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, section titled "Infection Prevention during Blood Glucose Monitoring and Insulin Administration" specified there was an increased risk for exposure to bloodborne viruses through contaminated equipment, such as glucometers, when shared. Using a [glucometer] for more than one person without cleaning and disinfecting it in between uses contributed to transmission of HBV (Hepatitis B virus). [Glucometers] should be cleaned and disinfected after every use.
The facility's 4/2019 Disinfection of Point-of-Care Devices/Instrument Policy & Procedure specified all point-of-care devices, including glucometers, will be cleaned and disinfected according to manufacturer recommendation using EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) approved disinfectants.
Resident 37 was admitted to the facility in 7/2023 with diagnoses including type II diabetes.
Resident 28 was admitted to the facility in 8/2023 with diagnoses including type II diabetes.
On 8/14/24 at 12:29 PM Staff 32 (Agency RN) was observed in Resident 28 and 37's shared room. Staff 32 used a glucometer and obtained Resident 28's blood sugar. Staff 32 returned to the medication cart in the hallway, placed the glucometer on the top surface of the cart and disinfected the glucometer with an alcohol prep pad. At 12:35 PM Staff 32 returned to the room with the used glucometer and stated she was going to obtain Resident 37's blood sugar. The State Surveyor requested to speak with Staff 32 prior to obtaining Resident 37's blood sugar. Staff 32 stated she used alcohol wipes to disinfect shared glucometers because "the purple top wipes caused a lot of errors" and she had seen other nurses use them at the facility.
On 8/14/24 at 12:40 PM Staff 6 (Infection Preventionist) stated she was unsure if alcohol wipes were effective against blood borne pathogens.
On 8/14/24 at 1:05 PM Staff 6 provided the glucometer's manufacturer instructions which indicated the glucometer was to be disinfected between patient uses by wiping it with a CaviWipe towelette (durable towelettes that offer quick, easy-to-use, time-saving convenience and kill organisms in only three minutes) or EPA-registered disinfecting wipe in between tests and be cleaned prior to disinfecting.
Review of Resident 28 and Resident 37's health record revealed no diagnoses including viral bloodborne pathogens.
On 8/14/24 at 2:33 PM Staff 2 (DNS) stated glucometers were to be disinfected according to manufacturer instructions and alcohol wipes were not to be used to disinfect glucometers as they did not kill blood borne pathogens.
2. The facility's 7/2024 Transmission Based Precautions Policy & Procedure specified the following related to Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP):
-Residents with wounds required EBP.
-Personnel was to wear gloves and a gown when dressing, bathing/showering, transferring, providing hygiene, changing linens, changing briefs or assisting with toileting, therapy and device care/use for a resident on EBP.
-EBP applies when a wound is open and/or draining.
Resident 28 was admitted to the facility in 8/2023 with diagnoses including heart failure, diabetes with a foot ulcer, cellulitis (a bacterial skin infection) of the left lower limb and acquired absence of the right foot.
Resident 28's 5/20/24 Quarterly MDS revealed the resident was cognitively intact, had a total of two venous ulcers (leg ulcers caused by problems with blood flow in a person's leg veins) and arterial ulcers (a painful, deep sore or wound in the skin of the lower leg or foot) and received the application of nonsurgical dressings and ointments/medications other than to her/his feet.
On 8/12/24 at 10:20 AM Staff 24 was observed to push Resident 28 in her/his wheelchair from the facility's shower room, down the hall and into the resident's shared room. The resident's legs were not covered and revealed large open wounds with chunks of missing skin and yellowish puss on both legs. A sign outside of Resident 28's room indicated she/he was on EBP. After Staff 24 assisted the resident to her/his side of the room, Staff 24 placed a towel under the resident's left foot and right stump, removed the resident's breakfast tray and exited the room. Staff 24 did not wear gloves or a gown when she pushed the resident in her/his wheelchair or when she placed a towel under her/his foot/stump. Staff 24 was not observed to perform hand hygiene after she pushed the resident in her/his wheelchair and prior to retrieving the towel that was placed under her/his bare foot/stump. At 10:23 AM Resident 28 was observed with her/his bare foot/stump off of the towel and directly on the floor. At this time, the resident's right leg was observed with blood running down.
On 8/12/24 at 10:32 AM Staff 24 stated staff were supposed to wear gloves, a mask and a gown whenever they worked with residents who were on EBP. Staff 24 stated Resident 28 was on EBP and she did not wear the appropriate PPE when she transported the resident from the shower room or when providing her/him with a towel. Staff 24 further stated she liked to put a towel under the resident's foot/stump because they "leaked water."
Observations of Resident 28 on 8/12/24 from 10:23 AM to 10:59 AM revealed Resident 28's foot/stump to rest uncovered on the floor of her/his room. A pool of clear fluid was observed on the ground where the resident's foot/stump had previously rested. At 10:43 AM Staff 15 (RN) entered the resident's room, asked the resident if the towel was underneath her/his foot/stump, said "oh," pointed to the towel on the ground and left the room.
On 8/12/24 at 10:59 AM Staff 15 re-entered the resident's room to provide treatments to both of the resident's legs. Prior to completing the treatments, Staff 15 was observed to step in the pool of clear fluid on the floor of the resident's room. At 11:47 AM Staff 15 stated she expected staff to wear gloves when they assisted Resident 28 when her/his wounds were uncovered. Staff 15 stated she thought the resident's foot and stump should be on a towel when uncovered "because they wept a lot and I don't know what else to do."
On 8/13/24 at 12:45 PM Resident 28 was observed to sit in her/his wheelchair in her/his room. The resident's leg wounds were covered and she/he wore non-skid socks over the bandages on her/his feet. No towel was observed underneath the resident's foot/stump and a wet towel was observed in a clump next to the foot of the resident's bed. Resident 28 stated her/his foot and stump were always leaking but she/he could not tell or feel it when they did.
On 8/14/24 at 9:40 AM Staff 10 (CNA) stated she had frequently seen a trail of liquid coming from Resident 28's feet on the floor throughout the facility. Staff 10 stated she had not been instructed on what to do when she noticed the trail of liquid on the floor from the resident's feet but thought housekeeping regularly mopped the floors. Staff 10 further stated she regularly changed the resident's socks and towel as they were often soaked all the way through with liquid from her/his feet.
On 8/14/24 at 10:21 AM Staff 29 (CNA) stated she had noticed "a couple of times in the hallway" liquid trails coming from Resident 28's feet. Staff 29 stated she noticed some staff just put a towel down when they noticed the trail but she would clean it up with a towel and then take the dirty towel to the laundry.
On 8/14/24 at 11:53 AM Resident 28 was observed to wheel her/himself down the hall, around a corner and into a shared resident bathroom. A trail of clear liquid was observed on the ground that followed the resident from her/his room to the bathroom. An unidentified staff person assisted the resident into the bathroom, closed the door behind the resident and stepped into the liquid left on the floor. From 11:53 AM to 12:15 PM five different staff and two different residents were observed to step in the liquid Resident 28 left behind on the floor.
On 8/14/24 at 2:54 PM Resident 28 stated her/his room was cleaned and mopped only once in the morning each day.
On 8/15/24 at 9:38 AM Staff 29 was observed to leave the resident shower room with a black garbage bag filled with used towels. Staff 29 did not wear gloves or a gown. At 9:39 AM Staff 29 stated she just gave Resident 28 a shower during which she wore gloves and a mask but not a gown. Staff 29 stated the garbage bag was filled with dirty towels from Resident 28's shower.
On 8/15/24 at 11:50 AM Staff 6 (Infection Preventionist) and Staff 17 (RN Consultant) acknowledged the findings of this investigation. Staff 17 stated she expected staff to wear a gown and gloves when with Resident 28 any time her/his wounds were not covered and when assisting her/him with a shower. Staff 17 stated she expected Resident 28's wounds to be covered when out of her/his room and staff "should clean the floor as soon as possible" if the liquid coming from Resident 28's foot/stump could not be contained. Staff 17 further stated she expected staff to "keep on top of changing the resident's dressings and socks."
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4. On 8/13/24 at 12:56 PM Staff 13 (CNA) was observed in the east hall picking up dirty food trays. Staff 13 picked up room 147's dirty tray, placed it in the cart and went into room 151, no hand hygiene was completed. Staff 13 exited room 151 and went into room 152, no hand hygiene was completed. Staff 13 exited room 152 with a dirty food tray, placed it in the cart and with into room 144, no hand hygiene was completed. Staff 13 was observed in room 144 attempting to assist the resident with eating, the resident refused the meal, staff 13 exited room 144 with the dirty food tray and placed it in the cart, no hand hygiene was completed. Staff 13 stated she was not taught to clean her hands between picking up dirty food trays.
On 8/16/24 at 8:35 AM Staff 3 (Interim DON) stated staff are expected to perform hand hygeine each time they go in and out of rooms.
Plan of Correction:
1.The glucometer was immediately disinfected per manufacturer's instructions
2.Resident 28 had medication and treatment adjustments to address the leaking wounds. They are no longer
weeping outside of the dressing. Resident remains on EB precautions. Resident's wounds are covered when
leaving the room and staff will wear appropriate PPE when caring for Resident 28
3.Staff 26, 27, and 13 were immediately educated on when to perform hand hygiene
4.All resident’s with wounds were reviewed to ensure their wounds are appropriately dressed without leaking
and are covered when they leave their room. They are on EB precautions and staff wear appropriate PPE when
caring for them
5.Licensed nurses were educated on how and when to clean glucometer devices
6.Licensed nurses and CNAs were educated that wounds should be covered before residents come out of their room
and report to the provider or their nurse if there are any issues with the dressing leaking. Staff educated
on when to wear PPE when caring for residents on EB precautions. Staff educated on when and how to complete
hand hygiene.
7.DNS/Designee will complete random audits on hand hygiene, the cleaning of glucometers, and residents on EB
precautions weekly x4, monthly x 2 or until compliance is achieved.