Preventing the Spread of Infection Through Pest Control

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By Jennifer Brumfield

In hospitals and healthcare environments, patient safety is the top priority for staff and administrators. Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are a critical risk for patients. Those who are infected risk longer hospital stays, serious illness, or even death. While infections spread by touch, droplets, and contaminated surfaces and equipment, there’s another form of transmission that healthcare professionals need to be aware of and prepared for: pests.

Pest control may seem daunting for hospital administrators and other healthcare professionals. They have enough on their mind taking care of patients, running a hospital, and more. However, a pest infestation can result in at best a ding to the reputation and decrease in patients, and at worst the loss of licensing and funding, so there’s no room for error in this industry. Understanding the common pests that affect healthcare facilities, how they enter, and the best strategies and techniques for prevention and mitigation is a critical component of protecting patient safety and wellbeing.

Common pests in healthcare facilities

Correctly identifying the types of pests that frequent healthcare facilities is the first step in preventing and mitigating an infestation. Some of the most common pests seen in the healthcare industry are:

  • Bed bugs: Due to heavy foot traffic and the number of rooms in an average hospital, bed bugs are a common problem in healthcare facilities. In fact, a 2018 survey found that 36% of pest professionals have treated bed bugs in hospitals. They often go unnoticed during the day and come out to feed at night, and their bites can cause itchy welts and allergic reactions. Bed bugs also multiply quickly and spread between patient rooms, so it’s important to take swift action against these hitchhiking pests.
  • Cockroaches: Because these insects like to hang out near drains, trash, sewers, and other surfaces that harbor bacteria, cockroaches can be a major problem in environments that need to be kept sterile. Cockroaches have been known to transmit more than 30 types of bacteria, seven human pathogens, and six types of parasitic worms. Some cockroaches even transmit E. coli, salmonella, and gastroenteritis. They invade bathrooms, kitchens, and cafeterias, making hospitals particularly susceptible.
  • Rodents: A rodent sighting might damage your reputation, but they can also cause life-threatening illnesses for patients. Like cockroaches, mice and rats can transmit 35 diseases, including Hantavirus, salmonellosis, and typhus. They also reproduce quickly, so if you see even one rodent in your facility, it’s best to get the situation under control as soon as possible.

Pest entry points

There are three main things that attract pests to a facility: food, water, and shelter. Unfortunately, hospital cafeterias, patient rooms, and waiting areas provide all three. While pests can get inside from open doors and windows, there are other ways they can sneak inside including:

  • Drains and sewer pipes: Cockroaches can enter a facility by crawling through drains and pipes, bringing germs with them and transferring them wherever they step.
  • On bags, pants, and shoes: Healthcare facilities often experience heavy foot traffic, with a never-ending circulation of staff, patients, and families. Bed bugs are very sneaky and like to enter on unsuspecting items of clothing or bags. Even packages and deliveries can bring pests in on them.
  • Cracks and crevices: Many pests, such as cockroaches and rodents, can squeeze through holes a fraction of their size. Unsealed cracks and crevices present the perfect opportunity for pests to get inside a healthcare facility without being noticed.

Prevention and mitigation techniques

If these pests seem concerning to you, don’t be alarmed. There are several ways to help prevent and address pests in healthcare facilities:

  • Proper sanitation procedures: Trash cans, low-traffic areas, and food areas are places where pests like to hide, so thorough cleaning and sanitation practices take away feeding and breeding opportunities. Remove waste quickly, avoid unnecessary moisture, and clean up after spilled food or crumbs to reduce attractants.
  • Staff training: Along those same lines, train staff to keep an eye out for signs of pests, such as blood stains on sheets and fecal droppings. Pests are very smart, and catching a pest issue early is one of the most important ways to prevent a full-blown infestation. Your team should know how to identify signs of pests and how to properly report them to management.
  • Seek help from pest professionals with healthcare experience: Especially in the healthcare industry, it’s critical to know when to turn to professionals. And not just any professionals—those with experience in the healthcare industry will adhere to Joint Commission requirements, use methods that are safe for patients, and practice discretion to avoid unnecessary alarm.

Pest control is more than an element of healthcare facility maintenance—it’s a crucial tactic to preserve patient safety and help prevent the spread of infectious disease. By understanding the common pests, how they enter a facility, and prevention and mitigation measures, staff, administrators, and professionals in the healthcare industry can minimize the risk of HAIs. Effective pest management not only helps protect licensing and funding, but more importantly, it safeguards the safety and wellbeing of patients—and staff.

Jennifer Brumfield is a Division Technical Director and Board-Certified Entomologist for Western Pest Services, a New Jersey-based pest management company serving businesses and homeowners in major Mid-Atlantic markets. Learn more about Western by visiting www.westernpest.com.