5 High Traffic Areas in Hospitals and the Pests They Could Attract

Healthcare facilities like clinics and hospitals receive a lot of foot traffic from staff, delivery workers, patients, and visiting friends and family. And while these places are associated with cleanliness and sterility, the truth is that all these people coming and going can increase the risk of a pest infestation. Pests in a hospital immediately endanger the health and safety of everyone on the premises, which is why catching and eliminating them is crucial. Here are five highly susceptible areas you should focus on. 

Waiting Rooms – Bed Bugs

Much of the work the Shreveport, LA commercial pest control experts at Anti-Pest do when they visit a healthcare facility revolves around the furniture and beds. Bedbugs enjoy nesting and living between upholstery fabric and other textiles, where they can take advantage of the warmth and multiply quickly. However, bed bugs can also invade waiting rooms. Waiting rooms see a lot of back and forth as people wait to see their loved ones. The furniture, clothing, draperies, and cushions in this area can quickly get infected if even one person brings in a bed bug. They will also multiply quickly.

Kitchens, Nurses Stations, and Cafeterias – Flies, Termites, Cockroaches and Rodents

Pests often move indoors when it is cold to find warmth, but they also come for food. Areas where food and snacks are staples, such as the cafeteria, kitchen, pantry, and nurses station, can attract a wide range of pests. Usually, you will see termites and flies swarming around sugary foods, spilled drinks, and poorly disposed refuse. Pests can transmit pathogens to food they land on and cause food poisoning.

Bathrooms – Termites, Cockroaches, and Rodents

The bathroom is damp and dank, making it an excellent nesting location for pests. And as people walk in and out of a hospital bathroom, they bring different things. Some people change diapers in there, throw away food waste, discard soiled bandages, and more. This influx of people and waste can create an ideal location for ants, cockroaches, rodents, and silverfish to thrive.  

Loading Docks – Cockroaches and Rodents

Loading docks are an entry point through which packages enter the hospital. During delivery hours, they can get a lot of traffic, which is a risk in itself. Boxes and cardboard docked in this area can also provide nesting material for rodents and cockroaches, which can make their way into the hospital.

Outdoor Ares – Mosquitoes

The outdoor areas in a hospital also receive a lot of traffic as some patients and visitors prefer to be outside in the fresh air rather than within the hospital. But here the traffic is not the problem, rather the features installed in these areas keep people entertained. Ponds and pools, for instance, can create a breeding zone for mosquitoes, especially if they are not cleaned regularly.  

Get Ahead of Pest Infestations by Hiring Commercial Pest Control Experts

Pests can significantly affect a business, some more than most. In a healthcare facility, pests like bedbugs, termites, and mice can endanger the health and safety of everyone on the property, most regrettably the patients. Pest sightings are also an easy way to ruin your reputation as a hospital and deter patients. If you have or suspect you may have a pest problem in your healthcare facility, contact the pest control experts at Anti-Pest to schedule an inspection and treatment.