§483.80 Infection Control The facility must establish and maintain an infection prevention and control program designed to provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections.
§483.80(a) Infection prevention and control program. The facility must establish an infection prevention and control program (IPCP) that must include, at a minimum, the following elements:
§483.80(a)(1) A system for preventing, identifying, reporting, investigating, and controlling infections and communicable diseases for all residents, staff, volunteers, visitors, and other individuals providing services under a contractual arrangement based upon the facility assessment conducted according to §483.71 and following accepted national standards;
§483.80(a)(2) Written standards, policies, and procedures for the program, which must include, but are not limited to: (i) A system of surveillance designed to identify possible communicable diseases or infections before they can spread to other persons in the facility; (ii) When and to whom possible incidents of communicable disease or infections should be reported; (iii) Standard and transmission-based precautions to be followed to prevent spread of infections; (iv)When and how isolation should be used for a resident; including but not limited to: (A) The type and duration of the isolation, depending upon the infectious agent or organism involved, and (B) A requirement that the isolation should be the least restrictive possible for the resident under the circumstances. (v) The circumstances under which the facility must prohibit employees with a communicable disease or infected skin lesions from direct contact with residents or their food, if direct contact will transmit the disease; and (vi)The hand hygiene procedures to be followed by staff involved in direct resident contact.
§483.80(a)(4) A system for recording incidents identified under the facility's IPCP and the corrective actions taken by the facility.
§483.80(e) Linens. Personnel must handle, store, process, and transport linens so as to prevent the spread of infection.
§483.80(f) Annual review. The facility will conduct an annual review of its IPCP and update their program, as necessary.
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Observations:
Based on review of facility policy, clinical record review, observations, and staff interviews, it was determined that the facility failed to follow enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) for one of three residents (Resident R58) with enteral feeding tubes (G- Tube, a tube inserted in the stomach through the abdomen), and failed to implement an infection control program that included a system of surveillance to identify possible communicable diseases or infections for two of 12 months (July 2025, and April 2026).
Findings include:
Review of the facility policy "Enhanced Barrier Precautions" dated 4/30/26, indicated enhanced barrier precautions (EBP) are used as an infection prevention and control intervention to reduce the transmission of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) to residents. EBP employ targeted gown and glove us in addition to standard precautions during high-contact resident care activity. An example of high-contact resident care activity includes device care or use (central line, urinary catheter, feeding tube, tracheostomy/ventilator etc.).
Review of facility policy "Infection Prevention and Control Plan" dated 4/30/26, indicated an infection prevention and control program is established to maintain and provide a safe, sanitary and comfortable environment and to help prevent the development and transmission of communicable diseases and infections. Surveillance tools are used for identifying the occurrence of infections, recording their numbers and frequency, detecting outbreaks and epidemics, monitoring employee infection, monitoring adherence to infection prevention and control practices, and detecting unusual pathogens with infection control implications.
Review of the admission record indicated Resident R58 was admitted to the facility on 5/22/26.
Review of Resident R58's Minimum Data Set (MDS - a periodic assessment of care needs) dated 5/28/26, indicated the diagnoses of stroke (damage to the brain from an interruption of blood supply), hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body), and heart failure (heart doesn't pump blood as well as it should).
Review of Resident R58's physician order dated 5/23/26, indicated enteral feed order three times a day for nutrition - Osmolite 1.5 bolus one can (eight fluid ounces).
Review of Resident R58's physician order dated 5/25/26, indicated EBP: G-tube/surgical incision right groin. Requires utilization of gowns and gloves during high contact resident care activities.
Observation on 6/7/26, at 12:05 p.m. of Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Employee E4 administered Resident R58's bolus feeding through the G tube. LPN Employee E4 did not put on a gown as required with EBP.
Review of the facility's monthly tracking of surveillance on 6/9/26, for the period of June 2025, through May 2026, failed to include surveillance tracking to identify possible communicable diseases or infections for two of 12 months (July 2025, and April 2026).
Interview on 6/9/26, at 12:15 p.m. Infection Preventionist Employee E18 confirmed that a gown is to be worn during administration of a tube feeding and that the facility failed to include surveillance tracking to identify possible communicable diseases or infections for two of 12 months (July 2025, and April 2026).
28 Pa. Code: 201.14 (a) Responsibility of licensee. 28 Pa. Code: 201.18 (b)(1) Management. 28 Pa. Code: 211.10 (d) Resident care policies. 28 Pa. Code: 211.12 (d)(1)(2)(5) Nursing services.
| | Plan of Correction - To be completed: 07/28/2026
Nursing staff were immediately re-educated on proper infection control protocols, including hand hygiene and PPE use for Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) by the DON or designee. Monthly tracking of surveillance for July of 2025 and April of 2026 will be reviewed and updated.
The Infection Preventionist Nurse or designee will conduct refresher training for facility staff on the facility's Infection Prevention and Control Program, including CDC guidelines for hand hygiene, PPE donning/doffing, and transmission-based precautions, inclusive of EBP. DON or designee will re-educate Infection Preventionist as it relates to monthly surveillance tracking.
The Infection Preventionist/designee will conduct random infection control observations on multiple shifts 2 x's weekly for 4 weeks and weekly for 2 weeks to ensure Enhanced Barrier Precautions are being followed. The DON or designee will conduct weekly audits of monthly infection control surveillance tracking.
The Infection preventionist nurse will document all observation results, DON or designee will report monthly surveillance tracking audits, and report findings to the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Committee.
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