Health units demand tight pest control
VALENTIN B DIEGO of the Riyadh-based Masa Establishment for Pest Extermination Services highlights the importance of a thorough pest management programme in hospitals, where the risk of nosocomial infections is great.
01 March 2005
Hospitals have a critical need to maintain an intensive pest management programme for both aesthetic and more importantly medical reasons.
Because of the very sensitive nature of the people who are confined to hospitals, pests are not just a physical menace but a medical threat as well, with several of the more common pests found in hospitals known to be carriers of infectious microorganisms, such as bacteria, both inside or on the surface of their bodies.
If they come in contact with patients – either directly or indirectly (through contamination) – they can cause nosocomial infections, which are a major concern in the healthcare industry. Prevention of such infections is the primary responsibility of the infection control department in each hospital, and the pest management programme is a key aspect of this effort.
Hospitals are exceptional in their structural and organisational complexity. The plumbing, mechanical (heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning - HVAC), and electrical systems are important aspects of the physical or structural complexity of large hospitals. Several departments and layers of administrations interact within the hospital and can include housekeeping and sanitation (including laundry care), food services, all the different medical departments, and a separate infection control group. Pest management professionals must be familiar with all these factors and must be able to communicate effectively with all hospital staff.
Pest infestations can mean lawsuits if implicated in a hospital illness or compromised patient care. Particularly in patient areas, an administrator’s tolerance for pests is essentially zero.
Planning pest management
Hospitals and nursing homes include many features found in office buildings, malls, hotels, and airports. For instance, their main kitchens and supply receiving docks resemble those of commercial establishments. Patient rooms are not unlike hotel rooms, while utility areas, lobbies, corridors and gift shops are also similar to those seen in business structures. Many pests are the same as in any other building where food is stored, prepared and served and where people work, but the tolerance for them is much lower.
While hospitals and nursing homes have an obligation to protect patients from pests, there are no fast, easy ways of dealing with them in sensitive situations, especially if they have well-established populations of German cockroaches, mice, or pharaoh ants.
In many ways, pests have an advantage over us, even in our own structures, which is why controlling pests is an ongoing battle. Whenever planning a pest management programme, in whatever type of account, it is important to understand the factors that favour pests or that can make pest management difficult.
In addition to the demand for a high level of pest management performance, all aspects of the pest management programme will be under constant review by the hospital administration, public health inspectors, medical personnel, and hospital accreditation boards. Often, the hospital administration will enlist the services of a consulting entomologist or sanitarian to make recommendations and otherwise oversee the pest management programme. Only a carefully thought-out, highly-organised, and well-monitored (from a quality control standpoint) pest management programme can be successful under such circumstances.
It is recommended that the following four major points must be reviewed periodically to identify potential problems: Factors favouring pest entry, pest survival and pest dispersal indoors; and factors making pest management difficult.
The best approach to treatment involves the integrated use of non-chemical methods and a range of insecticides, which are especially suited for specific pest conditions. An effective pest management programme involves hard work, both by the pest control operator and often by the customer. The basic elements of a pest management programme are as follows:
• Obtain cooperation;
• Inspect premises;
• Develop recommendations for non-chemical measures;
• Develop recommendations for chemical treatments;
• Implement initial treatments;
• Implement follow-up treatments; and
• Monitor the results.
A pest management programme using these elements will work successfully in any type of account.
Masa Establishment for Pest Extermination Services as one of the pioneered pest control operators in the kingdom has a very comprehensive knowledge of the way insects live as well as safety measures in controlling insect pests through the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme using combination of chemical and non-poisonous chemicals. This knowledge is the result of 25 years of dedicated service to the public and environment in solving pest problems for their safety and protection.
