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Based on interview and record review, the facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program to prevent the presence of German cockroaches (a small insect that can cause the spread of bacterial infection).

This deficient practice placed the 264 residents out of 264 residents at risk of vector-borne diseases (diseases that result from an infection transmitted to human by insects such as cockroaches, mosquitos, ticks, and fleas).

Findings:

On 2/4/2020, an unannounced visit was made to the facility to investigate a cockroach infestation in the kitchen.

A review of the Retail Food Official Inspection Report from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Environmental Health Services (EHS), dated 02/04/2020, indicated that the EHS representative, EHS Inspector 1, observed the following between 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.:

1. Five live nymphs and six live adult German cockroaches that were in a hole in the wall in the kitchen's mechanical ware wash (the collecting and washing of any kitchen ware used in the preparation, serving, or storing food) area.
2. The 11 German cockroaches were under a metal counter and exiting the hole in the wall.
3. One live adult German cockroach was found under the metal counter within the mechanical ware wash area.

The EHS report also indicated that the director of food and nutrition and the pest control technician were present with EHS Inspector 1 during the observations and that they were informed and acknowledged the observations of the live German cockroaches.

During an interview, on 02/04/2020 at 5:59 p.m., EHS Inspector 1 stated that he found 11 live cockroaches in the facility's kitchen area on 02/04/2020 around 2:00 p.m.

During an interview, on 02/04/2020 at 7:22 p.m., the director of food and nutrition and the environmental services director stated that EHS inspector 1 informed the facility that there were live cockroaches in the kitchen and that there were cracks and crevices areas in which the cockroaches harbored in. The director of food and nutrition also stated that the facility had a practice to notify the pest control service company whenever they observed a live pest, and that the pest control service company technician would usually fumigate by the following day. The director of food and nutrition stated that there was no documented evidence that this procedure was followed.

A record review of the pest control policy and procedure, dated September 2018, indicated the food and nutritional services department shall be free of all rodents and insects.