Top 5 Pests Often Found in Healthcare Facilities
Hospital (Photo credit: Ralf Heß)
Hospitals are meant to be safe havens for recuperating individuals, places that are sanitary and well-organized. For such facilities, pest management is a top priority. Insects can carry disease, and their presence may indicate that legal sanitary procedures have been neglected. Below is a list of the five insects most commonly spotted in hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers, along with the appropriate steps that must be taken to safely remove these health hazards from the premises.
The Top Five Pests Found in Hospitals
If one generation of pests remains unnoticed, it is more likely that their population will spread through inevitable reproduction. Therefore, spotting and eradicating these intruders immediately is vital. The pests that most commonly invade hospitals and other healthcare facilities include:
- Bed Bugs
- Ants
- Flies
- Cockroaches
- Mice
Bed bugs top the list, as they are known to be very “clingy”, and will attach themselves to clothing and other materials. Ants, flies, and cockroaches often creep in through doorways, windows, and cracks in the walls. If found on a consistent basis, these pests can be a clear sign that sanitary procedures have been neglected. Appropriate steps must be taken in order to keep staff and patients healthy, and to continue the smooth operation of the establishment.
How to Combat Insects in a Healthcare Facility
When it comes to hospitals, prevention is not just an option – it’s mandatory procedure. Keeping food properly stored, maintaining proper sanitary conditions, and keeping the building well-maintained all contribute to keeping insects away. However, such pests can still manage to sneak into the premises. This is where elimination of the insects comes to play, followed by appropriate investigation of the source of the problem.
Rather than allowing time for the insects to multiply, seek the advice of a professional insect control company to eliminate (or at the very least, deter) the insects in the area. Then, when infestation is cleared, the source, whether it is food or a crack in the windows, can be investigated and repaired.
