Signature Healthcare of Muncie Infection Control IN
MUNCIE, IN - Federal inspectors found that Signature Healthcare of Muncie failed to properly implement infection prevention and control programs, placing residents at risk of exposure to dangerous pathogens including a drug-resistant fungal infection. The January 2025 inspection also revealed that life-saving equipment was not maintained in working condition during a medical emergency.
Infection Control Failures Put Vulnerable Residents at Risk
The most significant violations centered on the facility's inadequate implementation of Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP), a critical infection control measure designed to prevent the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms and other dangerous pathogens among nursing home residents.
Inspectors documented serious deficiencies in the care of a resident who had tested positive for Candida auris, a potentially deadly fungal infection that is resistant to multiple antifungal medications. This organism is considered a serious global health threat by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention because it spreads easily in healthcare settings and can cause severe infections with high mortality rates.
The resident had been placed on Enhanced Barrier Precautions since March 2024, yet facility staff demonstrated confusion about proper protocols nearly a year later. During the inspection, nursing staff were observed providing care without appropriate personal protective equipment. A certified nursing assistant was seen assisting the resident with bathroom care, removing gloves, then using bare hands to push the resident's wheelchair and help with shoes without completing proper hand hygiene or wearing required protective equipment.
When questioned, the nursing assistant stated she believed protective equipment was only necessary when the resident had a visible skin rash, demonstrating a fundamental misunderstanding of infection control principles for drug-resistant organisms. This type of pathogen can be transmitted even when symptoms are not visible, making consistent protective measures essential.
Medical Significance of Candida auris Infections
Candida auris represents one of the most serious emerging threats in healthcare settings. Unlike common yeast infections, this organism is often resistant to multiple classes of antifungal medications, making treatment extremely difficult. The fungus can survive on surfaces for weeks and spreads rapidly between patients, particularly in nursing homes where residents have compromised immune systems and require frequent personal care.
The CDC estimates that more than 1 in 3 patients with invasive Candida auris infections die, though death is often due to other serious underlying conditions rather than the infection itself. However, the organism can cause serious bloodstream, wound, and ear infections that significantly complicate medical care and recovery.
For nursing home residents, who often have multiple chronic conditions and weakened immune systems, exposure to Candida auris can be particularly dangerous. The organism can colonize the skin without causing immediate symptoms, allowing infected individuals to unknowingly spread it to others through contaminated hands, equipment, or surfaces.
Confusion Over Precaution Requirements
The inspection revealed systemic confusion about infection control requirements that persisted for months. The affected resident's door displayed conflicting signage, including general stop signs and protective equipment instructions, but lacked clear information about the specific type of precautions required or when staff needed to use protective equipment.
Multiple signs were eventually posted on the resident's door, creating further confusion among staff about which protocols to follow. Different nursing staff provided contradictory information about the resident's status, with some believing precautions were only necessary during active symptoms and others uncertain about requirements altogether.
The facility's Infection Preventionist acknowledged that the resident should not have had conflicting orders for both isolation and Enhanced Barrier Precautions, indicating systematic problems with infection control protocols. The preventionist also revealed she had been seeking clarification from corporate staff about which residents required Enhanced Barrier Precautions but had not reached out to state health department specialists for guidance.
Data source: This article is based on inspection data downloaded directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) via Medicare.gov. CMS releases inspection reports in bulk; we publish the findings as documented by state surveyors in the official Form CMS-2567 Statement of Deficiencies.
Plan of correction: The CMS report we receive does not include the facility's plan of correction. Facilities submit plans of correction separately to state survey agencies and those responses may not be reflected in CMS data at the time of publication. The absence of a plan of correction in our data does not mean one was not filed. Readers who want information about corrective steps taken are encouraged to contact the facility directly or their state survey agency.
Corrections may have occurred: Inspection reports reflect conditions observed on the date of the survey. Facilities may have implemented corrections, staffing changes, additional training, or other remediation since the report was issued. We report what CMS provides and encourage readers to seek current information from the facility.
Editorial process: Inspection findings are extracted from CMS source documents and synthesized using AI, reviewed for factual accuracy against the original report by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: September 19, 2026 · Our methodology
SIGNATURE HEALTHCARE OF MUNCIE in MUNCIE, IN was cited for violations during a health inspection on January 23, 2025.
The January 2025 inspection also revealed that life-saving equipment was not maintained in working condition during a medical emergency.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.