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Updated: Sep 21, 2025
A Method for Evaluating Insecticide Efficacy against Bed Bug, Cimex lectularius, Eggs and First Instars
Published on: March 15, 2017
Bed bug infestation in a French university hospital: control strategy, financial impact and perspectives
A Gressier1, N Galakhoff1, P Thuillier2
1Infection Control Unit, Brest Teaching Hospital, Brest, France.
Background:
With the increase in international travel and development of insecticide resistance, a re-emergence of the bed bug has been observed since the 2000s and it is becoming a worldwide public health problem. Hospitals and other medical settings have not been spared, while the cases reported remain limited. However, there are no specific recommendations for the healthcare settings in the literature.
Aim:
To report our experience of a bed bug infestation in a medical unit, in the French University Hospital Centre of Brest, caused by the admission of a patient carrier in October 2020. We described the practical methods used to control bed bugs infestation, evaluated the cost of this episode and created a specific procedure to take care of at-risk patients or known carriers of bed bugs.
Findings:
The decision to close the unit for global treatment was taken after the investigations using a sniffer dog revealed that four rooms were infested. The closure lasted 24 days. We estimated the total cost of the infestation to be approximately US$400,000. No other wave of infestation occurred. We created a specific protocol of care for patients who were known carriers or at risk of carriage of bed bugs to graduate a strategy of control.
Conclusion:
Bed bug infestations in health facilities have a major impact on the care of patients and relevant economic consequences. Prevention and education policies are an essential starting point to respond to the scale of the phenomenon.
Insights
Bed bug infestations in hospitals are a growing public health concern. A 24-day unit closure and $400,000 cost highlight the need for specific healthcare protocols to manage these infestations.
Area of Science:
- Medical Entomology
- Public Health
- Infectious Disease Control
Background:
- Bed bug (Cimex lectularius) resurgence poses a global public health challenge, exacerbated by international travel and insecticide resistance.
- Healthcare facilities are increasingly affected by bed bug infestations, yet specific management guidelines are lacking.
- Limited case reports exist for bed bug infestations within hospital settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To document a bed bug infestation in a French university hospital's medical unit.
- To detail control measures, assess economic impact, and develop a patient management protocol.
- To address the lack of specific recommendations for healthcare environments.
Main Methods:
- Infestation identification via sniffer dog investigation.
- Temporary closure of the affected medical unit for comprehensive treatment.
- Development of a specialized protocol for at-risk or known bed bug carriers.
Main Results:
- Four rooms confirmed infested, necessitating a 24-day unit closure for eradication.
- The total cost associated with the bed bug infestation was estimated at approximately $400,000.
- No secondary infestations were observed post-treatment; a patient care protocol was established.
Conclusions:
- Bed bug infestations in healthcare settings have significant patient care and economic repercussions.
- Effective management requires robust prevention and education strategies tailored to medical environments.
- Developing specific protocols is crucial for controlling bed bug carriage in patients.
