CMS F-tag

F881: Infection control

An antibiotic stewardship program must be in place. Cited 1,893 times at 1,674 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#52 of 242 tags0% caused harm50 statesLatest survey Jan 16, 2026

How F881 shows up in inspections

F-TAGF881#52 of 242 tagsOccasionally cited

How serious it usually is

  • Immediate jeopardyJ–L0%0
  • Actual harmG0.4%8
  • No actual harmD · E · F98.4%1,862
  • Minimal harmB · C1.2%23

0% of F881 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

  • 1,893Citations
  • 1,674Facilities cited11% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

  • 201815
  • 201974
  • 202023
  • 202178
  • 2022247
  • 2023426
  • 2024552
  • 2025476
  • 20262

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

Where F881 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 F881 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

  • California25% of homes333 citations · 289 of 1,154 facilities
  • Ohio20% of homes224 citations · 185 of 911 facilities
  • Illinois20% of homes155 citations · 135 of 665 facilities
  • Missouri20% of homes108 citations · 97 of 479 facilities
  • Michigan18% of homes93 citations · 74 of 420 facilities
  • Minnesota19% of homes70 citations · 64 of 337 facilities
  • Pennsylvania9% of homes67 citations · 61 of 653 facilities
  • Washington27% of homes66 citations · 52 of 192 facilities
  • Massachusetts16% of homes62 citations · 53 of 338 facilities
  • Wisconsin15% of homes53 citations · 47 of 321 facilities

Top 10 of 50 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

  1. Avamere Rehabilitation at Park WestSeattle, WA · Report card3 F881No harm
  2. Adira Nursing and RehabilitationSaginaw, MI · Report card3 F881No harm
  3. Carriage Inn of SteubenvilleSteubenville, OH · Report card3 F881No harm
  4. Chesaning Nursing and Rehabilitation CenterChesaning, MI · Report card3 F881No harm
  5. Emerald Pointe Health and Rehab CtrBarnesville, OH · Report card3 F881No harm
  6. Evercare of SwanseaSwansea, IL · Report card3 F881No harm
  7. Goffstown Nursing and Rehab CenterGoffstown, NH · Report card3 F881No harm
  8. Highland Health Care CenterHighland, IL · Report card3 F881No harm
  9. Laguna Hills Health and Rehabilitation CenterLaguna Hills, CA · Report card3 F881No harm
  10. Maple Manor Rehab Center of Novi INCNovi, MI · Report card3 F881No harm
  11. North Bend Post AcuteNorth Bend, WA · Report card3 F881No harm
  12. Roosevelt Park Nursing and Rehabilitation CommunitMuskegon, MI · Report card3 F881No harm
  13. South Lyon Medical CenterYerington, NV · Report card3 F881No harm
  14. Spokane Health & RehabilitationSpokane, WA · Report card3 F881No harm
  15. Sunnyside Nursing CenterTorrance, CA · Report card3 F881No harm

What to ask a facility about a F881 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 16, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

Frequently asked questions

What is F881 in a nursing home inspection?
F881 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Implement a program that monitors antibiotic use." (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 F881?
F881 was cited 1,893 times at 1,674 facilities (11% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #52 of 242 tags. 8 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.
Does a F881 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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