F441: Have a program that investigates, controls and keeps infection from spreading
F441 is one of the federal requirements every Medicare and Medicaid certified nursing home must meet. CMS describes it as: Have a program that investigates, controls and keeps infection from spreading.
It sits in CMS's environmental category.
CMS Health Deficiencies file, data as of September 1, 2026. The files hold each home's last three standard inspections and three years of complaint visits.
How seriously inspectors rate it
Every citation gets a letter for how much harm inspectors found and how many residents it touched (how to read the letters). 0.0% of F441 citations came from a complaint visit rather than a routine inspection.
By letter: D 5, E 4.
What inspectors wrote
Three recent F441 citations from different states, quoted from the inspectors' statements of deficiencies (CMS form 2567). Names are removed by CMS.
Inspectors wrote, November 9, 2017, scope and severity DBased on observation, clinical record review, staff interviews and revised of the facility documentation the facility staff failed to maintain an infection control program to provide a safe, sanitary environment to prevent the development and transmissions of disease and infection for 2 of 29 residents (Resident #8 and 11) in the survey sample. 1. The facility staff failed to implement appropriate hand hygiene during a sacral wound care dressing change for Resident #8. 2. The facility staff failed to implement appropriate hand hygiene during a right ankle care dressing change for Resident #11.
Nassawadox Rehabilitation and Nursing, Nassawadox, VA
Inspectors wrote, May 18, 2017, scope and severity EBased on observation while conducting the initial facility tour and confirmed while conducting environmental rounds with facility staff, the facility failed to ensure that resident care items and toiletries were stored in a manner that reduces the risk of infection.
Complete Care at Severna Park LLC, Severna Park, MD
Most recent F441 citations
| Inspection | Home | Town | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 9, 2017 | Nassawadox Rehabilitation and Nursing | Nassawadox, VA | D |
| October 19, 2017 | Bridgeway Health and Rehabilitation Center | Phenix City, AL | E |
| September 21, 2017 | Albertville Nursing Home | Albertville, AL | D |
| September 14, 2017 | Atlantic View Post Acute | Newport News, VA | D |
| August 24, 2017 | St. Martin's in the Pines | Irondale, AL | D |
| August 17, 2017 | Norfolk Health Care Center | Norfolk, VA | D |
| July 13, 2017 | Portsmouth Health and Rehab | Portsmouth, VA | E |
| May 18, 2017 | Complete Care at Severna Park LLC | Severna Park, MD | E |
| March 23, 2017 | Potomac Falls Health & Rehab Center | Sterling, VA | E |
Common questions
- What is F441 in a nursing home inspection?
- F441 is the federal requirement to "have a program that investigates, controls and keeps infection from spreading". CMS files it under environmental. A home cited under F441 did not meet that requirement at the inspection.
- How often is F441 cited?
- The CMS files as of September 1, 2026 list 9 F441 citations at 9 nursing homes, 0 of them in the 12 months to that date. 0.0% were rated as actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
- Is a F441 citation serious?
- It depends on the letter. Most F441 citations (100.0%) were rated as potential for more than minimal harm, D to F. None in the current files is at the immediate jeopardy level.
The interpretive guidance inspectors use for each F-tag is CMS's State Operations Manual, Appendix PP. NursingHomeClear reports the citations as CMS records them and is not affiliated with CMS. All F-tags · Methodology