HospitalInspections.org

Based on observation, policy review and staff interview it was determined the hospital failed to maintain clean air vents in the operating room suites. This affected two of two operating rooms surveyed. The hospital has ten operating rooms and performs approximately 500 surgical procedures per month.

Findings include:

Tour of the hospital surgical department was completed on 07/17/12. On 07/16/12 at 1:11 PM the two air vents in operating room # 2 were inspected. Both air vents were noted to have dust build-up on the grids behind the outside grill. On 07/17/12 at 10:30 AM, operating room # 1 was inspected after the completion of a procedure. One of two air vents in the room was inspected and found to have dust build-up on the grids behind the outside grill. Staff E confirmed these findings of dusty grills during tour on 07/16/12 and 07/17/12.

Review of hospital infection control policies was completed on 07/17/12. The policy entitled, "Infection Prevention Guidelines for Surgery/Anesthesia" reveals vents are on a quarterly preventative maintenance schedule.

Interview with Staff I, Staff A and Staff C on 07/17/12 at 2:10 PM revealed no one could ascertain what quarterly preventative maintenance on the vents consisted of. In addition, no one could ascertain if or when the dusty grids had ever been cleaned.