Federal inspectors found the infection control violations during a November 18 complaint investigation at Paradigm at the Prairies on Del Norte Drive. Staff responsible for respiratory treatments had abandoned basic safety protocols designed to prevent respiratory infections among vulnerable residents.
The problems centered on two critical pieces of equipment: nasal cannulas that deliver oxygen directly to residents' nostrils, and breathing masks used for respiratory treatments. Both devices make direct contact with residents' airways and require careful handling to prevent the spread of infections.
Inspectors discovered nasal cannulas sitting unprotected on trash cans instead of being properly stored in sealed plastic bags. Breathing masks used for treatments were similarly left exposed, creating opportunities for contamination between residents who shared the equipment.
When questioned about the violations, nursing staff acknowledged their responsibility for bagging the equipment but had simply failed to follow through. The oversight put residents at direct risk of respiratory infections, particularly dangerous for elderly patients who may already have compromised immune systems.
The Director of Nursing admitted during an 8:40 AM interview that staff were supposed to ensure nasal cannulas and breathing masks were bagged when not in use specifically to prevent cross contamination and respiratory infection. She acknowledged it was her responsibility to verify staff compliance but had failed to catch the violations.
"She said she would do an in-service about bagging the nasal cannula and the breathing mask when not in use and would randomly monitor the staff if they were bagging them when not in use," inspectors documented.
The Assistant Director of Nursing, interviewed at 10:31 AM, confirmed that respiratory equipment should be stored properly to prevent cross contamination and respiratory infections. She stated that whoever administered breathing treatments was responsible for cleaning equipment and storing it in plastic bags afterward.
"She said the nasal cannula should not be on the trash can," the inspection report noted. The ADON promised to coordinate with the Director of Nursing to provide staff training on proper respiratory care protocols.
By 1:20 PM, the facility's Administrator was also acknowledging the infection control failures. She confirmed that staff expectations required bagging nasal cannulas and breathing masks when not in use to prevent respiratory issues, and that leaving nasal cannulas on trash cans violated those standards.
The Administrator promised to coordinate with the Director of Nursing to ensure respiratory equipment was properly cleaned and stored going forward.
The violations directly contradicted the facility's own written policies. Inspectors reviewed Paradigm at the Prairies' respiratory treatment policy, revised in June 2019, which explicitly required "safe, appropriate and effective provision of respiratory treatment" and mandated that "infection control practices including standard and transmission-based precautions are followed during handling of equipment, including cleaning, storage."
Despite having clear written protocols in place for nearly six years, nursing staff had abandoned basic infection control measures that protect residents from preventable respiratory infections.
The equipment handling failures represent a fundamental breakdown in infection prevention at a facility caring for elderly residents who often have compromised respiratory systems. Nasal cannulas and breathing masks come into direct contact with residents' airways, making proper storage and cleaning critical for preventing the spread of respiratory pathogens between patients.
Cross-contamination through improperly stored respiratory equipment can lead to serious infections including pneumonia, particularly dangerous for nursing home residents who may have underlying health conditions that make them more susceptible to respiratory illness.
The facility received a citation for minimal harm with potential for actual harm affecting few residents. However, the violation exposed systematic failures in basic infection control that could have affected any resident requiring respiratory treatments.
Federal inspectors completed their investigation on November 18, documenting the infection control violations that put vulnerable residents at unnecessary risk of respiratory infections through contaminated breathing equipment left sitting on trash cans instead of being properly bagged and stored.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Paradigm At the Prairies from 2025-11-18 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.