Hygiene and Sanitation

Bedbugs are small insects that can infest homes and other structures. There are several species of bedbugs, one of which  is responsible for the majority of infestations in temperate climates; another species can be found in more tropical areas. There are also related species known as "bat bugs" and "bird bugs", which infest the habitats of those animals.Human bedbugs are found around the world and can infest any structure or site where people may rest. Bedbugs tend to be more common in apartment buildings, and hotels.

Travel, Hotel Rooms and Bed Bugs

In case you haven't heard, bed bugs are back. And one of the most popular places they like to hang out and "feed" is in hotel rooms. So if you travel -- and who doesn't? -- you need to take some precautions to make sure you don't bring any little critters home with you. I can tell you from personal experience that getting rid of these pests is both a hassle and extremely expensive. Better to avoid the problem in the first place.

Here are his recommendations for keeping the bed bugs away:

1. Check for Complaints

Before you book any hotel, go online and check for bed bug complaints from other travelers. Some favorite sites for this include TripAdvisor, The Bedbug Registry and Bedbugger.com. Just keep in mind that researching a property before your trip won't guarantee you a pest-free stay since many infestations go unreported.

2. Inspect the Room

Once you get your room key and step over the threshold, it's time to get to work. At a bare minimum, you should inspect the mattress (you'll need to remove the sheets and carefully check the seams), headboard (try removing it from the wall if you can), and side tables by the bed. If there's a sofa bed, you'll need to open that up too. You're looking for everything from live bed bugs and their eggs to blood spots and fecal matter.

If you happen to notice a white powder residue in the drawers or around the circumference of the room, chances are the hotel has recently treated for bed bugs.

3. Keep Luggage Away from the Bed

The biggest mistake you can make is to lay your suitcase on the bed and start unpacking your clothes. In fact, you don't even want to store your bag on the floor. Instead, use the luggage stand. Just make sure to inspect the wooden legs and cloth straps before doing so.

Really cautious travelers will even keep their suitcases in the bathroom (and the tub, if possible) since bed bugs don't tend to sleep in the powder room.

4. Use Plastic Bags for Laundry

Anything you wear in the hotel room, especially your pajamas, could come in contact with bed bugs. The smartest thing to do is to place all of your dirty laundry in a sealed plastic bag so it doesn't contaminate your other clothing or your suitcase.

5. Wash Everything

Once you get home, you should wash and dry (preferably on hot) all of your dirty laundry. For your clean clothing, you can skip the washer and just pop it in the drier.

How Do I Prevent Bringing Bed Bugs Home?

If you have visited a dwelling or hotel  infested with bed bugs, the following procedures will help prevent you from bringing the pests home.

• Wash all clothing in 110°F water and use a machine dryer set on hot before or as soon as the clothing is brought back into the home.
• Suitcases should be carefully inspected, scrubbed with a stiff brush and thoroughly vacuumed.
• Seal the luggage in a plastic bag for several months to prevent bed bugs from feeding and they will eventually die. Bed bugs can live several months without a blood meal.
• Leaving luggage for several hours in a closed vehicle in full summer sun may also kill bed bugs and eggs.

Several different kinds of insects resemble bed bugs, so any bugs found in your home should be carefully compared to pictures to confirm their identify. A pest control expert or entomologist can also accurately identify the insects you collect.

Landlords and property owners have an obligation to provide safe and habitable accommodations for tenants. Tenants have an obligation to cooperate with owners and landlords. This includes preparing the home so that the pest control operator can easily inspect the rooms and treat if necessary.

More Myths on Bed Bugs (1)

Myth A: Bedbugs live exclusively in mattresses

"'Bedbug' is such a misnomer," Kells says. "They should also be called pet bugs and suitcase bugs and train bugs and movie theater bugs." Bedbugs spread away from beds into living areas and can be seen on any surface, he says, including chairs, railings and ceilings.

Myth B: Bedbugs prefer unsanitary, urban conditions

"Bedbugs are terribly nondiscriminatory," Schal says. Bedbugs can be found anywhere from ritzy high-rises to homeless shelters. The prevalence of the bugs in low-income housing is therefore not a result of the insect's preference, but of dense populations and the lack of money to pay for proper elimination strategies. "Any location is vulnerable," Kells says. "But some people are going to have a harder time getting control of them because it is such an expensive treatment."

Myth C: Bedbugs travel on our bodies

Bedbugs do not like heat, Kells says. They therefore do not stick in hair or on skin, like lice or ticks, and prefer not to remain in our clothes close to our bodily heat. Bedbugs are more likely to travel on backpacks, luggage, shoes and other items farther removed from our bodies.

More Myths on Bed Bugs (2)

Myth A: Bedbugs transmit disease

Bedbug bites can lead to anxiety, sleeplessness and even secondary infections, but there have been no reported cases of bedbugs transmitting disease to humans. They do, however, harbor human pathogens: At least 27 viruses, bacteria, protozoa and more have been found in bedbugs, although these microbes do not reproduce or multiply within the insects. Canadian researchers announced (pdf) in the June issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases that bedbugs isolated from three individuals in a Vancouver hospital carried methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, aka MRSA. Still, there have been no reported cases that the bugs actually transmit human disease.

Myth B: We should bring back DDT

When the controversial pesticide DDT was banned in 1972, most bed bugs were already resistant to it, Schal says, and today's populations are even more widely resistant thanks to the use of a new class of pesticides. Pyrethroids, the main class of pesticides used against bedbugs today, targets sodium channels in bedbug cells, just like DDT. Consequently, as bedbugs develop resistance to pyrethroids, they also become cross-resistant to DDT.

Myth C: You can spray bedbugs away 

Thanks to pesticide resistance, those cans of spray at your local hardware store simply will not do, Schal says, adding: "Relying strictly on chemicals is generally not a good solution." The most effective solutions are fumigation and heat treatments, but these can cost a cool $2,000 to $3,000 apiece for a single-family home. Scientists are diligently pursuing other strategies, including freezing and bait similar to that used for cockroaches. In the October 2010 issue of the Journal of Economic Entomology Schal and colleagues at the U.S. Department of Agriculture published a technique that employs inexpensive infrared and vibration sensors to track bedbug movement, which could be applied to the development of automated traps that detect the pests.

Can Pets Spread Bed Bugs?

The good news is that bed bugs aren't interested in pet food or pet waste. They only want blood, and they strongly prefer to bite humans because it's difficult for them to extract fluid through fur. The bad news is that ANY warm blooded animal living in your home can act as a magnet to lure bedbugs out of hiding and disperse them to areas they normally wouldn't go.

The steps you take to protect your bedroom against infestation will almost certainly drive bed bugs to other areas of your home in search of food. Factors such as body heat and pheromones will guide bed bugs to areas where pets congregate and relax. That's bad news for you and good news for your local pest control operator. The difference between treating one room and treating multiple rooms can equal thousands of dollars.

Bed bugs can and will feed upon animals if human counterparts are unreachable due to factors such as pesticides and bed protection measures. Pets who display scabs or bald spots from flea and mite irritations are all the more susceptible to bedbug bites. The most vulnerable place on a dog's body is the belly because it's not as furry as other body parts, and it often comes in contact with the ground. A bed bug can hitch a ride from the yard to your home using your dog's exposed skin as a vehicle, but this is a relatively small concern because bed bugs only stay on their hosts long enough to feed. It's far more likely for pets to transport bedbugs within the home.

Your Pets and Bed Bugs

The resurgence of bed bugs over the last decade has left many people worrying about every little itch that they get. However one victim of bed bugs that often get overlooked may be suffering more than you think. The victim we are talking about are your pets.

Contrary to popular belief, bed bugs don't only feed on humans. In fact they feed on anything that has blood. Although they may prefer human blood, if no other food source is available, they won't hesitate to feed on your beloved pets.

Some situations where bed bugs may end up feasting on your pets would be if you're never home. With no readily available food source, bed bugs may turn to your pets to get their weekly meals. Although your cat or dog's fur may slow bed bugs down, they will still be able to feed eventually. Fortunately bed bug bites do not cause any major harm to dogs; however it can make them uncomfortable.

A dogs fur can also act as a carrier for bed bugs, similar to your clothing. If you have an active dog, it can potentially spread bed bugs to your neighbors or other strangers.

If you have any concerns of bed bugs, don't hesitate to get a canine inspection. Dogs are excellent at finding bed bugs with their noses and are the most accurate form of bed bug detection. 

Staph Super Bugs?

Hate insects? Afraid of germs? Researchers are reporting an alarming combination: bed bugs carrying a staph "superbug." Canadian scientists detected drug-resistant staph bacteria in bed bugs from three hospital patients from a downtrodden Vancouver neighborhood.

Bedbugs have not been known to spread disease, and there's no clear evidence that the five bedbugs found on the patients or their belongings had spread the MRSA germ they were carrying or a second less dangerous drug-resistant bacteria.

However, bed bugs can cause itching that can lead to excessive scratching. That can cause breaks in the skin that make people more susceptible to these germs, noted Dr. Marc Romney, one of the study's authors.

The study is small and very preliminary. "But it's an intriguing finding" that needs to be further researched, said Romney, medical microbiologist at St. Paul's Hospital in Vancouver.

The hospital is the closest one to the poor Downtown Eastside neighborhood near the city's waterfront. Romney said he and his colleagues did the research after seeing a simultaneous boom in bed bugs and MRSA cases from the neighborhood.

Five bed bugs were crushed and analyzed. MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, was found on three bugs. MRSA is resistant to several types of common antibiotics and can become deadly if it gets through the skin and into the bloodstream.

Two bugs had VRE, or vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, a less dangerous form of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Both germs are often seen in hospitals, and experts have been far more worried about nurses and other health care workers spreading the bacteria than insects.

It's not clear if the bacteria originated with the bed bugs or if the bugs picked it up from already infected people, Romney added.

Bed Bugs - Recent Study on Disease Transmission

There has been a major increase in bed bug incidence in North America and Europe in recent years and aside from being an extreme nuisance and the destroyer of property and sanity of many lives, now bed bugs carrying two types of drug-resistant bacteria have been found by Canadian researchers.

The bed bugs were found to be carrying methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE).

Further studies are needed to characterize the association between S. aureus and bed bugs. Bed bug carriage of MRSA, and the portal of entry provided through feeding, suggests a plausible potential mechanism for passive transmission of bacteria during a blood meal.  Because of the insect's ability to compromise the skin integrity of its host, and the propensity for S. aureus to invade damaged skin, bed bugs may serve to amplify MRSA infections in impoverished urban communities.

The phenotype of the MRSA found in the bed bugs is identical to that found in tests of many Eastside patients with MRSA infections according to the report.

These findings suggest that bed bugs may act as a "hidden environmental reservoir" that promotes the spread of MRSA in overcrowded and impoverished communities.

Bedbugs Becoming Immune

The first comprehensive genetic study of bedbugs, the irritating pests that have enjoyed a world-wide resurgence in recent years, indicates they are quickly evolving to withstand the pesticides used to combat them.

The new findings from entomologists at Ohio State University, reported Wednesday online in PLoS One, show that bedbugs may have boosted their natural defenses by generating higher levels of enzymes that can cleanse them of poisons.

In New York City, bedbugs now are 250 times more resistant to the standard pesticide than bedbugs in Florida, due to changes in a gene controlling the resilience of the nerve cells targeted by the insecticide, researchers at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst recently reported.

Recent studies show that bedbugs around the world have developed a resistance to the chemicals used to control them. Scientists are now studying the molecular biology of these pests to develop more lasting control measures.

New findings from entomologists at Ohio State University, reported Wednesday online in PLoS One, show that bedbugs may have boosted their natural defenses by generating higher levels of enzymes that can cleanse themselves of common pyrethroid-based pesticides.

The findings add to a growing body of evidence from molecular-biology studies that bedbugs have recently evolved at leastthree improved biochemical defenses against common pesticides. Bedbugs today appear to have nerve cells better able to withstand the chemical effects, higher levels of enzymes that detoxify the lethal substances, and thicker shells that can block insecticides.

"These bugs have several back doors open to escape," said evolutionary entomologist Klaus Reinhardt at the University of Tuebingen in Germany, who was familiar with the new research butn't involved in the projects. "Simple spraying around of some pesticides may not [be enough] now or in the future."

In an era of antibiotic-resistant infections and herbicide-resistant weeds, the ability of bedbugs to survive once-lethal doses of insecticides is the newest evidence that efforts to eradicate pests that plague humankind may make some of them stronger. It is a key reason for the spread of bedbugs in the past decade, several researchers who study them said.

Well-adapted to homes, hotels and dormitories, these tiny blood-sucking parasites usually hide in mattresses, bed frames and furniture upholstery. Bedbugs feed every five to 10 days, leaving painful welts on the skin and sometimes triggering allergic reactions.

Laboratory tests in the U.S., Europe and Africa show today's bedbugs can survive pesticide levels a thousand times greater than the lethal dose of a decade or so ago. "There is a phenomenal level of resistance," said bedbug entomologist Michael Siva-Jothy at the University of Sheffield in the U.K. "It has evolved very recently."

Since the pesticide DDT was banned starting about 40 years ago, people usually have treated bedbug infestations with pesticides based on a family of compounds called pyrethroids, usually deltamethrin or lambda-cyhalothrin, synthetic versions of chemicals found in chrysanthemum blossoms.

There are few chemical alternatives, because the residential market for insecticides is relatively small, and the cost of development, safety tests and regulatory approval is relatively high, several researchers said. Since the bugs don't transmit any serious infectious diseases, there also is little medical funding to research new control measures.

Foggers, "bug bombs" are no match for bedbugs, scientists say!

Got a bedbug infestation?Many people turn to do-it-yourself "bug bombs" or "foggers" to rid the creepy crawlers from their bedrooms, but a new study shows the products that have been sold for decades might not even work.

"There has always been this perception and feedback from the pest-management industry that over-the-counter foggers are not effective against bed bugs and might make matters worse but up until now there has been no published data regarding the efficacy of foggers against bedbugs," said study author Susan Jones, an urban entomologist with the Ohio State University's Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, said in a news release. "If you use these products, you will not get the infestation under control, you will waste your money, and you will delay effective treatment of your infestation."

Ohio State University researchers tested three commercially sold foggers, Hot Shot, Spectracide, and Eliminator for the study, published in the June 3 issue of the Journal of Economic Entomology. After testing the brands on five different groups of live bedbugs for two hours, the scientists saw the foggers had little if any effect on the insects.

Jone said bedbugs hide in cracks and crevices such as under sheets and mattresses, or deep in carpets where foggers won't reach. Bugs that do come in contact with the mist may be resistant to the pesticide and can survive, she said.

The bottom line? You might be wise to leave it to the pros.

"Bed bugs are among the most difficult and expensive urban pests to control. It typically takes a professional to do it right," Jones said. "Also, the ineffective use of these products can lead to further resistance in insects."

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also says to steer clear of bug bombs or foggers, saying they can make the problem worse by scattering bedbugs throughout your home.

Bedbugs feed off blood and survive for months without a meal, according to WebMD. Infestations often occur in hotels, nursing homes, hospitals and cruise ships where lots of people sleep. People can be allergic t o the bites, experiencing itching or in rare cases life-threatening anaphlyaxis.

Maintaining Childcare Facilities to Prevent Bed Bugs

• Bed bugs like to hide in cracks and crevices so… seal cracks, crevices, and moldings with paint or caulk; secure loose tiles; remove carpeting when possible; repair holes, peeling wallpaper, and chipping paint.

• Fix storage and clutter issues in common areas. Store items (e.g. bags, blankets, toys, coats, books) in sealed plastic containers when possible.

• Train key employees, such as maintenance staff and teachers, so they know procedures for reducing the risk of infestation and transportation of bed bugs and what to do if bed bugs are discovered.

Keeping Childcare Facilities Clean from Bed Bugs

• Keep all areas as uncluttered as possible.

• Store all student and staff personal items separately in sealed plastic containers when possible.

• Clean regularly, paying extra attention to lost-and-found areas, upholstered furniture and/or bedding, wall mounted items (e.g. clocks, pictures, mirrors, etc.) and bookcases.

• Purchase and dedicate equipment for bed bug control, including vacuums and steam cleaners (steam must heat to at least 170oF). Empty and discard bags or collecting containers immediately. Clean and maintain the equipment regularly.

• Regularly wash and heat-dry all bedding, dress-up clothing, or other items for
at least 20 minutes (most ‘dry-clean only’ items can be put in the dryer as long as they are dry).

• Regularly inspect the facility: be careful and methodical using care to avoid spreading bed bugs to other areas.

Can my pet carry bed bugs?

Bed bugs don't live on pets or spend as much time on your pet as the more common pests (such as fleas, ticks, lice and mites), but they can bite your pets. 

 

We also know that bed bugs are very efficient hitchhikers and can be transported to your home via luggage, clothing, bedding, furniture, etc., so it's possible that bed bugs could also hitchhike in your pet's fur or its bedding or clothing.

Are flea and tick preventives effective against bed bugs?

Only products labeled with bed bugs as a target pest should be used. If bed bugs are not listed on the label, the product may not be effective. 

 

And unlike fleas and ticks, bed bugs live in your home, not on your pet. Using the wrong pesticide or using it incorrectly to treat for bed bugs can make you, your family, and your pet sick. The EPA has a search tool to help you find the right product. 

History of the Bed Bug

The Bed Bug evolved from the Bat Bug which feed on Bats in caves. 100,000 years ago Neanderthal man lived in caves and was also fed upon by these bugs. Eventually, the bat bug evolved into a new species we call the Bed Bug. When humans left the cave life and settled into villages, towns and cities they brought the bugs with them. Bed bugs have plagued man ever since.

The early writings about bed bugs appeared in ancient Egypt around 400 BC and the oldest bed bug found is an Egyptian fossil from 3500 years ago. They were also reported in early Roman and Greek writings. Medieval Europeans were also plagued by bed bugs. Not only were the poor living with these blood sucking pests but even the kings and noblemen were infested with bed bugs. It was also common to be infested with blood sucking lice. The most feared pest however, was the rat.

The rat meant that the deadly Black Death or Plague was about to break out. Bed Bugs continued to live side by side with people throughout history. Then during World War II, a miracle chemical, DDT was developed. DDT was so effective against bed bugs that after WWII they were no longer considered a pest problem. From the 1950’s through the turn of the century, problems with bed bugs were virtually non-existent.

Hotel Room too Hot for Bed Bugs?

Hot hotel rooms and hot dorm rooms are part of the bed bug buzz at the Entomological Society of America (ESA) annual meetings. There are even indications that hot air remedies can work well in combination with other bed bug control methods, including pesticides and dogs that sniff out bedbugs.

More companies are getting into commercial heat treatments for bed bugs. It seems a matter of practical application of the scientific data that heat can kill bedbugs, if you can figure out how to get the heat to where the bed bugs are hiding. 

The Conflict With Humans and Bed Bugs

The conflict between humans and insect pests has raged for centuries, but few battles boast the sheer make-your-skin-crawl ick factor as the war between people and bed bugs. And the battle, once played out largely in hotels with high international traffic, has moved to the home front.

Nine out of 10 pest management professionals have treated single-family homes, apartments and condos for bed bug infestations in the past year, according to the 2011 Bugs Without Borders Survey by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) and the University of Kentucky. Infestations are occurring in homes, hotels, hospitals, day care centers, college dorms, schools, movie theaters, department stores and even public transportation in every state.

Don't think you're safe from the little blood-suckers just because you travel little or stay at only the best hotels, professionals say. Bed bug infestations have little to do with cleanliness or quality. Bed bugs are notoriously hardy and just a few of the hitch-hiking pests - which you can pick up virtually anywhere these days - are all it takes to ultimately establish an infestation in your home or apartment.