The NOAH Infection Control Manual has been updated to include an Infestations section which includes Bed Bug Management.
Bed Bug Management Procedure
Standard precautions apply to all patients including those known or suspected of having bed bugs.
If a bed bug infestation is suspected in the health care facility, the following environmental procedures are recommended:
- If possible, capture a bed bug and place it in a sealed container to assist pest management in their assessment.
- Leave the suspect room intact without cleaning or removal of items (e.g., linens, furniture, equipment) to facilitate determination of the extent, if any, of the infestation and to prevent the spread of bugs to other areas.
- Close off the room or area from use, place signage (“Do Not Enter, Do Not Remove Equipment, Linen or Furniture from Room”).
- Notify Supervisor immediately and Infection Prevention (Quality/ Risk Team).
- Contact our pest control company immediately and schedule a same-day after hours treatment (usually takes about four hours) to be ready for next business day.
- No P.O. is needed prior to having pest control come out.
Procedure for Suspected or Diagnosed Infestation
If bed bugs are found on the patient or in the patient’s belongings, discuss identified infestation with patient and give recommendations from Centers for Disease Control on treating their living quarters.
Check waiting room and other patients/visitors
- Are bed bugs visible on the visitor?
- Does the patient or visitor state that the home is infested with bed bugs?
- Does the visitor describe characteristic bed bug bites on his/her extremities, neck, or shoulders?
Procedure for staff/management
- Contact pest control to treat the room or area.
- Infection Prevention staff and clinic leadership to determine if further investigation is needed.
- Determine if other patients need to be contacted for possible exposure.
- Place event into Compliatric.
Contact Information
Contact AZ Pest Kings – Aaron Lorti at 623-261-2343
Please reach out to Chris Sweeney csweeney@honorhealth.com or Eva Cole ecole@honorhealth.com with any questions you may have.
What to Look For
Bed bugs are small, flat insects that feed on human and animal blood. Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown in color, oval, and can range from one to seven millimeters in length. Nymphs (non-mature adult bed bugs) are smaller than the adult bed bug and are yellowish-brown in color.
All bed bugs are active at night and typically bite areas of exposed skin. While some bites may go unnoticed, some may experience a reaction to bed bug bites, which may result in localized swelling and itching (similar to a mosquito bite). If a skin reaction does occur, the bite mark(s) may be random or appear in a linear fashion.
Bed bugs are not known to transmit diseases to humans and do not typically require treatment of any kind. However, bed bugs can infest a home and hide in crevices or cracks around beds or furniture. Infestations usually occur around or near where people sleep or spend a significant amount of time.
Evidence of bed bugs may include eggs (tiny white eggs that resemble white rice), bloody smears, empty exoskeletons (white or light brown empty skins), and bed bug excrement (dark specks).
