Bed bug histamines persistent in infested areas

New research suggests bed bugs are a medically important threat


New research suggests bed bugs are a medically important threat, according to an article on the Infection Control Today website.

A North Carolina State University study shows that histamine levels are substantially higher in areas bed-bug-infested areas and that these histamine levels persist for months after the bed bugs have been eliminated.

“Histamine levels in bed bug-infested homes were at least 20 times higher than histamine levels in homes without bed bugs,” the study's author said. “And these levels didn’t decrease much three months after treating the infested homes with heat and insecticides.”

Bed bugs naturally give off high levels of histamine in their feces. They use histamine as a marker of a good place to aggregate. 

Read the article.

 

 



February 16, 2018


Topic Area: Infection Control


Recent Posts

Healthcare and Resilience: A Pledge for Change

Climate resilience and reducing environmental impact drive voluntary program targeting hospitals.


Texas Health Resources Announces New Hospital for North McKinney

Expected to open in 2028, the hospital will feature 60 beds initially with plans to double in capacity to accommodate for future community growth.


Cedar Point Health Falls Victim to Data Breach

Cedar Point Health has no evidence directly linking this incident to specific incidents of financial fraud or identity theft.


Fire Protection in Healthcare: Why Active and Passive Systems Must Work as One

Sprinklers, smoke compartments and firestopping can form an interdependent safety strategy.


Cleveland Clinic Hits Key Milestones for Palm Beach County Expansion

These include plans to begin demolition of current structure and hospital site preparation in 2026 and open the outpatient center and ambulatory surgery center in 2027.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.