§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 a review of select facility policies and procedures, clinical record review, observation, and resident, family, and staff interview, it was determined that the facility failed to ensure an environment free from the potential spread of infection on one of four open nursing units (F Unit, Residents 3, 4, 68, and 74).
Findings include:
Observation of a medication administration pass for Resident 4 on April 29, 2026, at 10:31 AM with Employee 21 (licensed practical nurse) revealed Employee 21 donned gloves to administer an eye drop to Resident 4's right eye. Employee 21 removed her gloves after the eye drop administration, placed the eye drop medication back in the medication cart drawer, typed on the computer on the medication cart, before she moved the medication cart to the nurses' station. Employee 21 did not perform hand hygiene after removing her gloves.
Interview with Employee 21 on April 29, 2026, at 10:49 AM confirmed that she did not perform hand hygiene after removing her gloves. Employee 21 pointed to the alcohol hand sanitizer on her medication cart; and stated that she had been trained to perform hand hygiene after removing gloves.
The facility policy entitled, "Categories of Transmission-Based Precautions," last reviewed January 30, 2026, revealed that transmission-based precautions shall be used when caring for residents who are documented or suspected to have communicable diseases or infections that can be transmitted to others. Contact Precautions are for residents known or suspected to be infected or colonized with microorganisms that can be transmitted by direct contact with the resident or indirect contact with environmental surfaces or resident-care items in the resident's environment. Examples of infections requiring Contact Precautions include diarrhea associated with Clostridium difficile (C. diff, a species of bacteria that can infect the colon and cause severe diarrhea). If a private room is not available, the Infection Control Coordinator will assess various risks associated with other resident placement options (e.g., cohorting). Wear gloves when providing any care to the resident. Remove gloves before leaving the room and wash hands immediately with an antimicrobial agent or waterless antiseptic agent. Wear a gown for all interactions that may involve contact with the resident or potentially contaminated items in the resident's environment. Remove the gown and perform hand hygiene before leaving the resident's environment. When possible, dedicate the use of non-critical resident-care equipment items such as a stethoscope or bedside commode to a single resident to avoid sharing between residents. If use of common items is unavoidable, then adequately clean and disinfect them before use for another resident.
The above policy did not address appropriate hand hygiene after Contact Precautions implemented for organisms not affected by alcohol-based sanitizers such as C. diff.
The facility policy entitled, "Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP)," last reviewed January 30, 2026, revealed that to minimize the transmission of germs transferring from residents to staff hands and clothing, staff will wear gown and gloves when providing care to residents that require significant physical contact and are at high risk of acquiring or spreading multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs). EBP, refers to an infection control intervention designed to reduce transmission of MDROs that requires staff to wear a gown and gloves while performing high-contact care activities with all residents who are at higher risk of acquiring or spreading an MDRO. High-contact resident care activities include transferring residents from one position to another, providing hygiene, changing bed linens, and assisting with toileting. A physician's order for EBP will be obtained. Residents who are on EBP due to colonization with a target MDRO will only be cohorted with another resident infected or colonized with the same organism. The nursing staff and/or infection preventionist will ensure that staff are aware of a resident requiring EBP.
The facility policy entitled, "Handwashing/Hand Hygiene," last reviewed January 30, 2026, revealed that the facility considers hand hygiene as the primary means to prevent the spread of infections. Use an alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water after contact with objects in the immediate vicinity of the resident, after removing gloves, and before and after entering isolation precautions settings. Wash hands with soap and water for the following situations:
When hands are visibly soiled
Before eating
After using the bathroom
After contact with a resident with infectious diarrhea including, but not limited to infections caused by C. diff
Observation of the doorway to Resident 68 and 74's room on April 28, 2026, at 2:32 PM revealed a sign labeled Contact Precautions and a sign labeled Enhanced Barrier Precautions. An organizer on the door contained isolation gowns and gloves. The Contact Precautions sign noted that everyone must clean their hands before entering the room and wash them with soap and water when leaving the room; staff must use dedicated equipment.
Clinical record review for Resident 68 revealed an active physician order (dated February 18, 2026) for EBP every shift for history of ESBL (Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase, enzymes produced by certain bacteria that confer resistance to a wide range of antibiotics, making infections caused by these bacteria difficult to treat) in her urine.
Interview with Resident 68 on April 28, 2026, at 2:40 PM revealed that she takes herself to the bathroom in her room. Resident 68 stated that she has had an occasion when the resident in the room next door opens the door while she is in there. Resident 68 stated that her roommate is also independent in the room and uses that bathroom.
Clinical record review for Resident 74 revealed the following active physician orders:
Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) every shift related to ESBL Resistance, dated April 14, 2026.
Contact precautions for C. diff, every shift for diarrhea; discontinue C. diff contact precautions if C. diff negative, dated April 24, 2026.
Observation of a medication administration pass for Resident 74 on April 29, 2026, at 11:09 AM revealed Employee 22 (licensed practical nurse) entered Resident 74's room without donning a gown or wearing gloves to administer her medications.
Employee 22 sorted through Resident 74's belongings to find respiratory treatment equipment to administer additional medication to Resident 74. Employee 22 used a stethoscope that she kept on her person to listen to Resident 74's lungs. Employee 22 did not wash her hands with soap and water before leaving Resident 74's room. Employee 22 used an alcohol pad to clean the earpieces and bell of her stethoscope before draping the stethoscope around her neck.
Alcohol-based sanitizers are ineffective against C. diff because the bacterium forms spores that are resistant to alcohol.
Continued observation of Employee 22 on April 29, 2026, from 11:12 AM to 11:19 AM revealed her to leave the medication cart, go to the medical supply storage room behind the nurses' station, obtain new tubing for Resident 74's respiratory treatment equipment, and return to Resident 74's bedside without donning PPE.
While in Resident 74's room on April 29, 2026, at 11:21 AM Employee 22 noted that her roommate's (Resident 68) oxygen tubing was not applied correctly in her nose. Employee 22 adjusted Resident 68's nasal oxygen tubing, used alcohol-based hand sanitizer (that is ineffective against C. diff), and left the nursing unit to go to the supervisor's office to obtain medication from the stock supply.
Employee 22 returned to Resident 74's room on April 29, 2026, at 11:46 AM, applied a gown and gloves to enter the room, and began the administration of Resident 74's respiratory treatment.
During Resident 74's treatment, Resident 68's daughter was sitting on Resident 68's bed, observed Resident 74's respiratory treatment, and asked, "does she have something contagious that I should know about?"
Continued observation of Resident 68 and 74's room on April 29, 2026, at 11:58 AM revealed Resident 68's daughter assisted her mother to ambulate to the bathroom. Resident 68's daughter was not wearing a gown or gloves.
Interview with Resident 68's daughter on May 4, 2026, at 12:22 PM revealed that she received no education or instruction from facility staff regarding special precautions or additional care necessary when visiting her mother (e.g., handwashing, avoiding direct contact with environmental surfaces in the room such as her bed, or wearing gloves). Resident 68's daughter indicated that she requested that the facility obtain testing of her mother's urine; and that the doctor ordered an antibiotic for her mother last week for a urinary tract infection.
Interview with Resident 74 on April 29, 2026, at 12:00 PM confirmed that she independently utilizes the same bathroom in the room as needed.
Interview with Employee 24 (licensed practical nurse) on April 30, 2026, at 1:12 PM confirmed that Residents 3, 68, and 74 use the same bathroom.
Clinical record review for Resident 3 revealed no diagnoses of C. diff or history of ESBL infection or colonization.
Observation on April 29, 2026, at 11:59 AM revealed Employee 23 (nurse aide) entered Resident 68 and 74's room to provide a new incontinence pad on Resident 68's bed because it was reportedly wet from urinary incontinence. Employee 23 wore gloves to change the pad but did not don a gown. Interview with Employee 23 on the date and time of the observation indicated that she believed the PPE signage and equipment on the room door was for Resident 74, not Resident 68.
Observation of Employee 22 completing Resident 74's respiratory treatment on April 29, 2026, at 11:56 AM revealed that she cleaned the oxygen tubing at the sink in the room, bagged the equipment, used her stethoscope to listen to Resident 74's lungs, removed her gown and gloves, performed hand hygiene at the sink in the room, and exited the room to the medication cart. Employee 22 did not utilize an effective method to clean her stethoscope after use with Resident 74.
Nursing documentation dated April 30, 2026, at 3:33 PM noted that the physician reviewed Resident 68's laboratory results from urine testing and provided a new order to start Macrobid (an antibiotic) twice daily for seven days.
Interview with Employee 26 (licensed practical nurse/infection control prevention coordinator) on April 30, 2026, at 9:20 AM confirmed that Employee 22 should have used the wipes that contain bleach to clean her stethoscope that was not dedicated equipment for Resident 74. Employee 26 also confirmed that the facility should have implemented a bedside commode for Resident 74 until the suspected C. diff infection was ruled out. Employee 26 stated that the facility did not consider Resident 3's (not diagnosed with a history of ESBL or C. diff) use of the bathroom that was used by Residents 68 and 74 (on EBP for a history of ESBL and contact precautions for C. diff).
Observation of Resident 68's room on April 28, 2026, at 2:32 PM revealed that she used supplemental oxygen. A respiratory mask not in use at the time of the observation was stored on top of Resident 68's bedside stand. The mask was not bagged or otherwise protected from potential environmental contaminants. Interview with Resident 68 indicated that she received respiratory medication through the mask three times a day.
Clinical record review for Resident 68 revealed medication administration records dated April 2026 that indicated that she received Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Nebulization Solution (Albuterol Sulfate, medication inhaled to dilate the airways or prevent spasms of the airways in residents who have lung conditions) three times a day at 8:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 9:00 PM.
The surveyor requested the facility's policy or procedure regarding the storage of oxygen equipment when not in use during an interview with the Nursing Home Administrator and the Director of Nursing on April 29, 2026, at 2:00 PM.
The facility policy provided, entitled, "Oxygen Storage," reviewed January 30, 2026, did not address measures the facility staff would take to protect oxygen equipment such as face masks when not in use to prevent potential environmental contamination.
Interview with Employee 22 on April 29, 2026, at 11:19 AM confirmed Resident 68's respiratory equipment was not bagged in an "antimicrobial bag" as per the facility's practice.
The surveyor reviewed the above infection control concerns during an interview with the Nursing Home Administrator and Employee 1 (registered nurse regional consultant) on April 30, 2026, at 2:15 PM.
483.80(a)(1)(2)(4)(e)(f) Infection Prevention and Control
Previously cited deficiency 5/2/25
28 Pa. Code 201.18(b)(1) Management
28 Pa. Code 211.10(a)(d) Resident care policies
28 Pa. Code 211.12(d)(1)(5) Nursing services
| | Plan of Correction - To be completed: 06/16/2026
1. Unable to retro correct deficient practice involving resident # 3,4, 68 & 74 and identified employees #21, 22, 23. 2. Infection Preventionist will complete audits of all residents in Isolation and/or EBP to ensure Infection Precautions are being followed based on facility policies and co-horted appropriately. Infection Preventionist will audit all residents with oxygen or nebulizers to ensure tubing and masks are stored properly. Infection Preventionist will complete initial audit of medication administration observations to ensure hand hygiene is being completed at regular intervals and donning and doffing is being completed when care is being rendered. Policy for Contact Precautions will be updated to include hand washing for organisms such as Cdiff that are not affected by alcohol based sanitizer. Policy for Oxygen Storage will be reviewed and updated if indicated to protect oxygen equipment such as face mask when not in use. 3. All staff will be in-serviced on regulation regarding Infection Prevention Control to include policies on Hand Hygiene, Contact Precautions, EBP, and Oxygen Storage as well as deficient findings. 4. Infection Preventionist or Designee will complete visual audits 2 x week of hand hygiene practices during care and medication pass, care of residents in TBP and/or EBP as well as storage of Respiratory Equipment. Audits will be completed 2 x week x 4 weeks, then weekly x 4 weeks. Results of audits will be reviewed by the QAPI committee. 5. Compliance by 6/16/2026.
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