Need pest help? Save $50 on your first recurring service today with code GET50

The Five Most Common Pests in Healthcare Facilities

Orkin Pro Consulting Healthcare Professional

Just as your facility addresses a variety of health concerns, you may also have to address a range of pest pressures. Ants, bed bugs, cockroaches, flies and rodents are among the most common, each of which pose unique threats to your healthcare environment.

For instance, flies can spread disease-causing microorganisms when they land. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mice and rats are known to spread bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli. They are also associated with the spread of hantavirus and more than 35 other diseases.

Patients with weakened immune systems in healthcare facilities face a greater risk of infection, so restricting their exposure to pest activity is crucial.

Below is a quick introduction to the common pests that you should be on the lookout for — for the full list, check out Healthcare Pest Control from a Patient’s Perspective.

  • Ants are resilient pests because their diet habits change over time, their colonies can have massive populations, they can travel long distances to find food and they go to great lengths to protect their colonies.

  • Bed bugs are exclusive blood feeders, making them reliant on human hosts. They reproduce and spread quickly, but they aren’t known to transmit human diseases.

  • Cockroaches are a major health concern, as they can spread disease, contaminate food, trigger allergies and even cause asthma.

  • House flies, phorid flies, cluster flies, blow flies and

    fruit flies are all pests that can affect healthcare facilities. House flies are especially filthy; they’re associated with more than 100 pathogens and carry twice as many pathogens as cockroaches.

  • Rodents are known carriers of numerous deadly diseases. They don’t need a large opening to get inside; rats can squeeze through an opening as small as a quarter, while a mouse can fit into a hole smaller than a dime.

Peace of mind for your patients is more important than ever. Learn how to help manage pests at your healthcare facility with our expert guide: Healthcare Pest Control From a Patient’s Perspective.

Patients should see doctors. Not pests. Learn how to prevent your patients from seeing pests in your healthcare facilities, and tips on how to keep pests out. Download guide.

Resources

More on Healthcare

Bed Bugs in Long Term Care Facilities

Joint Commission Pest Control Checklist

How to Help Prevent Pests from Invading Your Healthcare Facility

Orkin’s 2023 Pest Season Predictions

Pest of the Quarter: Bed Bugs

Cockroach Control in Hospitals - Sanitation & Prevention

Don't Get Bugged: Prevent Pests with IPM

Bed Bug Facts vs. Myths - Healthcare Facility Pest Management

Health Care Pest Management Plan - IPM Approach

Orkin Canine Inspections: How Bed Bug Sniffing Dogs Help Businesses Battle Infections

Connect with Us

Our customer care team is available for you 24 hours a day.

877-819-5097

Find a Branch

Our local Pros are the pest experts in your area.

Request a Free Inspection

We will help you find the right treatment plan for your business.

THE BEST IN PESTS.™

INDUSTRIES

Food & Beverage ProcessingFoodserviceGovernmentHealthcareHospitalityLogistics & WarehousingManufacturingMultifamilyOffice Property ManagementPharmaceutical

© 2024 Orkin LLC

Terms of UsePrivacyAccessibility StatementCareers

Your Branch  

Call Now