In what has become yet another concern about the growing rate of bed bug infestations across the United States, information recently announced about an individual hospital-based case indicates that these parasites were found to carry MRSA, a serious bacterial infection. MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is often picked up in hospitals and is called a "super bug" because it is resistant to antibiotics and can sometimes be deadly. The information was reported in the June 2011 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public health journal.

According to Atlanta, Ga. based entomologist Paul Bello, "While there is no evidence that the bed bugs have actually spread the infection at this point, it is still cause for concern, considering the potential that they might.

"If they are responsible for transporting MRSA," Bello added, "this would be a critical finding since bed bugs, by their parasitic nature, are renowned for their ability to travel from one place to another in search of warm-blooded hosts. As a result, the risk for spreading the infection could become significant. This underscores the importance of an early detection program as a critical part of any bed bug management program that should be undertaken at facilities that are at risk of bed bug infestation."

Pest control expert, Jonathan Frisch of AP&G, Inc. in Brooklyn New York, said that there are a variety of products available to use in a monitoring program, with differing levels of cost and sophistication.

One of the most recent developments is the deployment of inexpensive matchbook sized, cardboard monitoring stations. This product, called the Bed Bug Detection System (BDS™), is manufactured with a proprietary dot matrix of an adhesive that can capture bed bug specimens once they appear. By conducting a regular schedule of checks on the monitors - about once every two weeks - the emergence of a bed bug infestation can be detected in very early stages and promptly addressed.

In fact, the need for early detection is supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which states that bed bug monitoring devices should be part of an overall integrated pest management strategy. Intervention is key to this process because it is most effective when populations are low, hence the value of effective monitoring.

Source:
AP&G