Maria Joseph Living Care: Infection Control Failures - OH
The September 8 incident at Maria Joseph Living Care Center involved a resident with end-stage renal disease, diabetes, and other serious conditions who required maximum assistance with toileting and hygiene. Federal inspectors observed the entire care episode and documented the infection control failures in detail.
Certified Nursing Assistant 31, working with CNA 10, performed what appeared to be thorough personal care for the resident. Both staff members properly donned personal protective equipment for enhanced barrier precautions. CNA 31 used two washcloths during the cleaning process — one soapy cloth for cleansing and another wet cloth for rinsing.
But when the cleaning was finished at 3:52 p.m., CNA 31 placed both contaminated washcloths directly on the resident's bedside table.
The staff continued with their care routine. They used a towel to pat the resident dry, placing it on the bed. CNA 10 helped position a clean incontinence product and redressed the resident. Throughout this process, the soiled washcloths remained on the bedside table surface.
CNA 31 then removed the contaminated items and walked into the resident's bathroom without cleaning or disinfecting the bedside table where the soiled materials had been placed. She returned carrying the dirty items in a clear plastic bag, having removed her protective equipment and washed her hands in the bathroom.
The bedside table remained contaminated.
When inspectors interviewed CNA 31 immediately after the care episode at 4:09 p.m., she acknowledged her error. She confirmed that she had placed the soiled washcloths on the bedside table and admitted "she should have brought a bag with her to place the soiled items at bedside."
CNA 31 recognized the infection risk she had created. She told inspectors that placing the contaminated washcloths on the bedside table "presented an infection control concern."
The resident affected by this lapse in infection control had been at the facility since April 8. His medical record showed intact mental capacity with a Brief Interview Mental Status score of 13. Despite his cognitive awareness, he depended on staff for basic hygiene and mobility needs, requiring supervision with eating and maximum assistance with toileting, bed mobility, and transfers.
His complex medical conditions made proper infection control particularly critical. Along with end-stage renal disease and diabetes, he had diagnoses of depression, gout, and anxiety.
The facility houses 245 residents. Inspectors reviewed infection control practices for three residents during their complaint investigation and found this violation affected one of them.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to implement comprehensive infection prevention and control programs. These programs must ensure staff follow proper procedures during all resident care activities, especially those involving bodily fluids and contaminated materials.
Bedside tables in nursing home rooms serve multiple purposes throughout each day. Residents and staff place personal items, meals, medications, and other materials on these surfaces. Contaminating them with soiled washcloths used for incontinence care creates obvious infection transmission risks.
The violation occurred during what inspectors characterized as enhanced barrier precautions, suggesting the resident's condition or infection status required extra protective measures. This context makes the improper handling of contaminated materials more concerning.
CNA 31's acknowledgment that she should have brought a disposal bag to the bedside indicates awareness of proper procedures. Her failure to follow known protocols, combined with leaving the contaminated surface uncleaned, represented a clear breakdown in infection control practices.
The inspection report noted this deficiency emerged from "incidental findings discovered during the course of this complaint investigation." Inspectors were at the facility investigating other concerns when they observed and documented the infection control failure.
Maria Joseph Living Care Center's 245 residents depend on staff to follow basic infection prevention measures during intimate personal care. When nursing assistants contaminate frequently-used surfaces with materials soiled by bodily fluids, they create unnecessary health risks for vulnerable people who cannot protect themselves.
The resident with end-stage renal disease continues to require maximum assistance with toileting and hygiene. His bedside table, where he and staff place daily necessities, was left contaminated after a routine care procedure that should have protected rather than endangered his health.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Maria Joseph Living Care Center from 2025-09-11 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
MARIA JOSEPH LIVING CARE CENTER in DAYTON, OH was cited for violations during a health inspection on September 11, 2025.
Federal inspectors observed the entire care episode and documented the infection control failures in detail.
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.