Six residents’ rooms in a nursing home were infested with bed bugs and were treated by a pest exterminator and cleaned. This was not the first infestation the facility experienced. The facility was short-staffed in the housekeeping and laundry departments, causing less attention to be given in these areas, and the bed bugs were not identified immediately. One resident’s family was thought to be the source of the infestation, and one other resident may also be affected; however, there are no signs of an infestation affecting the resident. The resident’s daughter is her guardian, and she will be informed that her brothers may not visit until it has been verified that their home is clean and certified as bed bug free. The facility is considering having a protective order issued against the two brothers, disallowing their visitation until they are treated. The facility is expected to be completely cleaned and then deep cleaned, with the visitation restriction lifted except for the resident’s family suspected of being the source. They will be required to visit only in the front lobby area where there is no upholstered furniture.
When a facility experiences a bed bug infestation, where should they turn? The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) are valuable resources. According to a McKnight’s article in 2013 on bed bugs, the CDC specifically suggests working with a pest management provider to develop an integrated pest management plan. According to the CDC an integrated pest management approach is “a multifaceted approach to managing pests by focusing on (1) not attracting them, (2) keeping them out, and (3) getting rid of them using the safest, most effective methods.” For more information visit https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehs/elearn/vcehp.html. It is important staff are trained in the identification of bed bugs, how to prevent an infestation, and what to do and who to report to if a concern arises. Staff need to be vigilant at work and at home. Additionally, the facility should have policies and procedures to prevent and resolve issues related to bed bugs. According to another McKnight’s article on bed bugs, “more than a third of pest management companies reported treating a health care facility for bed bugs in 2014.”
Copps, P. T. (2013). Don’t let the Bed Bugs bite at your facility. McKnights. Retrieved June 18, 2017 from http://www.mcknights.com/marketplace/dont-let-the-bed-bugs-bite-at-your-facility/article/275469/
Harrison, R. (2016). Protect yourself and your facility from bed bugs. McKnight’s. Retrieved June 18, 2017 from http://www.mcknights.com/marketplace/protect-yourself-and-your-facility-from-bed-bugs/article/471979/
