Bed bugs in hospitals: more than just a nuisance

There are no infestation figures for Canadian hospitals, but in the United States, more than a third of pest- management companies responded to bed bug infestations in hospitals in 2012, up by more than 50% from 2011, accord- ing to this year's bed bug survey released by the National Pest Management Asso- ciation. The number of exterminators used in nursing homes has also increased, from 25% in 2011 to 46% in 2012. "The numbers are humongous across the country," says Don McCarthy, presi- dent of Braemar Pest Control in Bed- ford, Nova Scotia. "They're in apart- ments and homes, and that of course trickles down to hospitals." "Hospitals are designed to be clean, especially emergency rooms. The beds are changed every day, and insects don't have the chance to stick around," says McCarthy. - Jasmine Wilhams, CMAJ