Knowledge, Experience, and Concerns Regarding Bed Bugs Among Emergency Medical Service Providers

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Emergency Medicine
• Entomology

Background:

• Bed bugs are a growing public health concern, frequently encountered by frontline workers.
• Emergency medical service (EMS) providers are at risk of exposure during patient transport.
• Understanding EMS provider encounters, knowledge, and behaviors is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of bed bug encounters by EMS providers.
• To assess EMS providers' knowledge regarding bed bug biology and public health implications.
• To analyze the actions taken by EMS providers after encountering bed bugs.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous survey was administered to 407 EMS providers across 180 agencies in northeast Ohio.
• Data collection occurred between September 1, 2018, and March 31, 2019.
• The survey included questions on encounter frequency, knowledge assessment, and response actions.

Main Results:

• 21% of EMS providers reported monthly bed bug encounters; 6% reported weekly encounters.
• Younger, male providers in urban settings reported more frequent encounters.
• Knowledge assessment revealed suboptimal understanding, with a mean of 69% correct responses.

Conclusions:

• EMS providers demonstrate suboptimal knowledge and behaviors concerning bed bugs.
• Current practices for managing bed bug encounters within EMS are insufficient.
• There is a clear need for enhanced training and protocols to address bed bug issues in emergency medical services.