Keeping You Comfortable In Your Environment
For Immediate Service, Call or Text
519-317-1170

Healthcare facilities understand the importance of maintaining a safe and healthy environment for patients and staff. That’s why pest infestations can become a major concern for hospitals, doctors’ offices, long-term care facilities, or walk-in- clinics. They can also negatively impact the reputation of your facility and compromise the health and well-being of those in your care. By understanding what types of pests in healthcare facilities are most common, you can learn how to target and prevent them.

How Do Pests Get into Medical Buildings?

Healthcare facilities usually serve a high volume of patients daily, sometimes around the clock. Because of the high amount of foot traffic, pests can easily enter buildings and offices undetected. Cracks and crevices in the building’s exterior or plumbing can let pests easily enter and are perfect hiding places. Poor sanitation and hygiene practices within the healthcare facility can also attract pests, such as leaving food waste or dirty dishes out in the open.

Common Pests Found in Healthcare Facilities?

Pests have lots of opportunities to hide in different areas that make for the perfect home including patient rooms, waiting rooms, restrooms, and dining areas. Here are the most common pests to look for in healthcare buildings.

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs easily find their way into medical buildings, particularly in areas where patients or visitors rest, sleep, or sit for extended periods of time. They are typically brought into the building from clothing, bedding, or furniture but also enter through cracks or crevices on floors and walls. While they don’t carry diseases, they can negatively impact patients and can cause itching and scratching which can lead to infection. Assisted living, long-term care homes, and other residential healthcare facilities are at high risk of having bed bug infestations. Regular inspections of patient items, common areas, and training staff on signs of an infestation can help prevent bed bug issues from occurring.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches enter buildings through cracks in the foundation, gaps in doors and windows, or through pipes and drains. As they are attracted to moisture and food sources, you can find them most often in hospital kitchens, storage areas, or places with uncleaned spills and garbage. These pests are a high risk for healthcare facilities as they can spread disease, can contaminate food, and even cause asthma. Implementing proper sanitization and cleanliness can prevent cockroaches from finding areas to hide.

Flies

House flies, and fruit flies can be found in areas with food waste or unsanitary conditions. They can easily enter medical buildings through open doors, windows, and cracks or crevices on walls. You can also find them near standing water and moist areas such as drains or leaky pipes. They can contaminate food, packaging materials, and potentially spread food-borne illnesses. With proper sanitation and best-practices for cleaning, healthcare facilities can reduce fly infestations.

Ants

You can find these pests near food waste or crumbs and can enter through cracks and crevices that are not properly sealed. Ants are also attracted to standing water such as leaky pipes or mop buckets. These are social bugs, so once one ant is spotted, it’s usually a sign of an infestation. Pharaoh ants are a dangerous pest for medical facilities as they tend to gravitate toward open wounds and medical equipment. They also are known to carry many diseases. To prevent ant infestations, healthcare facilities should prioritize sanitation and cleanliness of areas with standing water, garbage, and leaks.

Rodents

These pests can enter buildings through the smallest openings and carry a number of diseases. Rodents also leave droppings and gnaw at packaging, products, equipment, and structures which can impact patient care. Because these areas see a large amount of traffic, rodents can easily enter buildings through open doorways. By regularly removing food waste, disinfesting surfaces, and keeping food preparation areas clean, healthcare facilities can reduce the risk of a rodent infestation.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are some of the deadliest bugs on the planet due to the many diseases that they carry such as Yellow Fever, Malaria, and West Nile Virus. These bugs can pose a huge risk for medical facilities due to the harm they can cause patients. You can find them in standing water areas, near leaky pipes, clogged gutters, or flower vases. Maintaining a clean and dry environment and removing standing water and areas with high moisture are key to preventing mosquito infestations.

Prevent Pest Infestations at Your Healthcare Facility

Pests can be a major problem in healthcare facilities, posing a threat to the health and safety of patients and staff. By understanding the common pests that can infest healthcare facilities, and implementing preventative measures to control their populations, healthcare facilities can maintain a clean and safe environment.

At ASAP Pest Control, we’re dedicated to providing your staff, patients, and visitors with a pest-free environment. Our integrated pest management program can help your healthcare facility identify and prevent pest infestations in a safe and effective manner. We can create a comprehensive pest management plan that prioritizes the safety and well-being of everyone. Contact us today to book a commercial pest inspection of your facility.