Bedbug Contamination Forces New York Hospital to Temporarily Restrict Access to Cancer Center’s Outpatient Area
Bedbugs were recently discovered in the outpatient cancer center area of a New York hospital causing the hospital to temporarily restrict access to the center last week. The contamination was traced to an individual who came into the center.
The hospital’s spokeswoman made this statement in an e-mail: “We had an individual come to the outpatient Cancer Center who we identified had bedbugs. In response, we are restricting the area and implementing a thorough cleaning to ensure the safety and well-being of all our patients and community.
The hospital attempted to contact persons with scheduled appointments to make them aware that the area was temporarily restricted. Hospital officials anticipate that the facility will be open within a few days, and they encouraged patients and visitors to contact the hospital’s manager of infection prevention and control should they have any concerns about exposure.
Compliance Perspective
Failure to discover and respond appropriately to a bedbug infestation or other contagion like scabies may be considered a lack of maintaining an effective infection prevention and control program which could be determined as provision of sub-standard quality of care, in violation of state and federal regulations.
Discussion Points:
- Review policies and procedures regarding the effectiveness of the facility’s infection prevention and control program.
- Train staff to recognize symptoms of bedbugs and nits that may be found on a resident or visitors, and in addition, the symptoms/presence of scabies and how to respond to each.
- Periodically audit to determine if the facility’s infection control program is being maintained through regular inspections.
