Little Known Hospital Pests Can Cause Big Problems For The Medical Community
Hospitals are known for their shiny floors and extreme sterilization processes, so one would think they would be the last place you would find any pests. However, just like in any home, hospital pests can become a serious problem. That's why pest control must be handled by a qualified professional in environments where sanitation is a huge priority.
Common pests found in hospitals include flies, roaches, bed bugs, ants and rodents. Ants in particular, can be a problem because it usually isn't a normal black ant that is found in hospitals. It is a very special kind of ant known as the pharaoh ant.
Pharaoh ants were thought to have caused one of the great plagues in Egypt, which is how they got their name. The name is very fitting as they notoriously difficult to control and get rid of.
Hospital Pests As An Institutional Problem
Businesses in Florida with large scale food operations such as grocery stores, restaurants, hotels and yes, hospitals tend to have problems with pharaoh ants. Colonies are typically formed within walls where they aren't obvious to humans. They prefer spaces that are warm, humid and close to food sources.
Unlike carpenter ants or fire ants, pharaoh ants have been known to spread diseases to humans. Salmonella and the streptococcus bacteria are two known pathogens that can be spread by pharaoh ants and are highly dangerous to hospital patients.
In medical environments where pest control has been side stepped, it has been reported that pharaoh ants have been found feeding on patient's wound dressings and snuck into IV containers seeking moisture.
Pharaoh Ants Are Difficult To Control
The reason pharaoh ants are so difficult to control is their ability to spread out into new colonies. In any given hospital there could be dozens of different colonies. If even one of those colonies is missed when treating a building, the ant population can quickly reproduce and rebound to original numbers.
It should also be noted that a pharaoh ant infestation is best handled by a professional pest control company like Super D Pest Control, as many household and over the counter pest control treatments have proven to be ineffective against pharaoh ants. Using over the counter pest control products can actually cause a colony to splinter off into several more colonies, thus making the problem even worse.
Because of how hard it is to exterminate these pests from hospitals, these and other types of medical facilities often use a pest control strategy called integrated pest management. This is where aggressive pest control techniques are used along side changes made to the environmental conditions that cause pest problems in the first place.
We Can Help Control Hospital Pests Carefully And Effectively
Integrative Pest Management is a strategy that involves treatment, prevention, monitoring and identifying the potential risks that can cause a pest problem from the start. If an infestation does occur, an integrative pest management solution is the best way to address the problem with the lowest level of toxicity to staff and patients.
When it comes to commercial pest control services where cleanliness is placed at the highest level, Super D Pest Control can help provide a custom pest control maintenance plan specifically for your facility. We understand the importance of medical industry standards that may be required for your business.
Call us at (727) 433-5310 today to schedule a free assessment of your current commercial pest control management or contact us on our website below.