CMS F-tag

F880: Infection control

An infection prevention and control program must be established and followed. Cited 23,352 times at 11,742 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#1 of 242 tags1% caused harm53 statesLatest survey Jan 20, 2026

How F880 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF880#1 of 242 tagsAmong the most cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ · K · L1.4%319
  • Actual harmG · H · I0.1%25
  • No actual harmD · E · F98.1%22,916
  • Minimal harmB · C0.4%92

1% of F880 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 23,352Citations
  • 11,742Facilities cited81% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 20173
  • 2018308
  • 20191,118
  • 2020388
  • 20211,083
  • 20222,244
  • 20235,088
  • 20246,898
  • 20256,198
  • 202624

Partial years reflect the rolling three-cycle window, not a change in enforcement.

Where F880 is cited most

Survey agencies differ in what they emphasize, so compare a facility with its own state. Shares are the portion of each state’s rated nursing homes with at least one F880 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California97% of homes3,420 citations · 1,114 of 1,154 facilities
  • Texas90% of homes2,347 citations · 1,046 of 1,167 facilities
  • Ohio83% of homes1,565 citations · 758 of 911 facilities
  • Illinois90% of homes1,302 citations · 600 of 665 facilities
  • Missouri93% of homes915 citations · 444 of 479 facilities
  • Pennsylvania63% of homes742 citations · 414 of 653 facilities
  • Michigan83% of homes688 citations · 347 of 420 facilities
  • New York71% of homes638 citations · 419 of 593 facilities
  • Florida62% of homes635 citations · 429 of 689 facilities
  • Indiana69% of homes634 citations · 349 of 504 facilities

Top 10 of 53 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Mirage Post AcuteLancaster, CA · Report card15 F8801 with harm
  2. Antelope Valley Care CenterLancaster, CA · Report card14 F880No harm
  3. Inland Valley Care and Rehabilitation CenterPomona, CA · Report card12 F8801 with harm
  4. Rio Hondo Subacute & Nursing CenterMontebello, CA · Report card11 F880No harm
  5. Bell Convalescent HospitalBell, CA · Report card10 F880No harm
  6. Delta Oaks Post AcuteStockton, CA · Report card10 F880No harm
  7. Tarzana Health and Rehabilitation CenterTarzana, CA · Report card10 F880No harm
  8. Ararat Nursing FacilityMission Hills, CA · Report card9 F880No harm
  9. Kei-Ai Los Angeles Healthcare CenterLos Angeles, CA · Report card9 F880No harm
  10. Maclay Healthcare CenterSylmar, CA · Report card9 F880No harm
  11. Park Avenue Healthcare & Wellness CenterPomona, CA · Report card9 F880No harm
  12. Sunnyside Nursing CenterTorrance, CA · Report card9 F880No harm
  13. The Ellison John Transitional Care CenterLancaster, CA · Report card9 F880No harm
  14. The Gardens Healthcare CenterNorthridge, CA · Report card9 F880No harm
  15. Bremerton Trails Post AcuteBremerton, WA · Report card8 F8801 with harm

What to ask a facility about a F880 citation

  1. What exactly did the surveyor find, and on what date? The report card shows the date and the severity letter.
  2. What was the plan of correction, and was it accepted by the state on the first submission?
  3. Has the same tag been cited in more than one cycle? Repeat citations matter more than a single one.
  4. If the letter was G or higher: what happened to the resident, and what changed in staffing or process?

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, Nursing Home Health Citations, current three inspection cycles, most recent survey Jan 20, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F880 in a nursing home inspection?
F880 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Provide and implement an infection prevention and control program." (Infection control). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.
How common is F880?
F880 was cited 23,352 times at 11,742 facilities (81% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #1 of 242 tags. 344 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F880 citation mean the facility is unsafe?
Not on its own. Read the scope and severity letter: D through F means no actual harm was found, G through I means a resident was harmed, and J through L means immediate jeopardy. Ask the facility what was cited, what was corrected, and when.

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