Integrated pest management key to keeping healthcare facilities safe

Pests are particularly worrisome for the highly regulated healthcare environment filled with patients with weakened immune systems, according to a blog on the FacilityCare website. Cockroach droppings and cast skins can aggravate allergies and even cause asthma attacks. Rodents can pose additional health threats. Rats and mice are known to spread more than 35 diseases worldwide, including salmonella, Hantavirus and E. coli.

An integrated pest management (IPM) program can proactively protect a facility and patients from all kinds of pests while minimizing the need for chemical treatments, according to the blog. IPM focuses on facility maintenance, sanitation and prevention measures. With IPM, chemical treatments are only used as a last resort, and then only in highly-targeted treatments.

IPM focuses on the key spots around healthcare facilities that pests target. IPM measures include:.

• Lock down entry points

• Keep loading docks and storage areas clean and clear

• Keep patient rooms and employee break areas clean and free of crumbs and spills

Read the blog.