Specialist Pest Control
HOSPITAL PEST CONTROL – AN INTEGRATED APPROACH
An integrated approach is recommended by Igrox Ltd whose technical expertise and knowledge of pest control strategies for prevention and cure is highly regarded within the industry.
People have been in conflict with pests for thousands of years because they compete with us for our food, invade our living spaces, damage our property and spread diseases. It is for these reasons than pest control is taken very seriously in this country and is specifically covered within several acts of parliament. No where is the need to control unwanted insect, rodent or bird activity more important than in a hospital environment where large numbers of people have to live in close proximity to each other. Rats, mice, flies and cockroaches are all known to spread diseases. The free movement of these creatures from unsanitary areas such as drains and refuse piles to sanitary areas such as hospital wards and kitchens allows them to introduce pathogens via their bodies and in their guts. In a similar way diseases may also be passed from one patient to another. Pests such as the pharaoh’s ant are frequently found in hospital environments where they have been known to feed on contaminated dressings, fruits, meats and sugar. Externally pigeons take advantage of the numerous perching and nesting sites made available to them in the form of windowsills, sheltered ledges below canopies and fire escapes. Large accumulations of bird dropping around frequently used nesting and perching sites are un-sightly, but more importantly can harbour diseases, corrode stonework, block guttering and cause slippery conditions on stairs and pedestrian walkways. Management of pests within the hospital environment is clearly very important. Control strategies should be developed that incorporate continuous monitoring and inspection for pest species, education of hospital staff to enable them to recognise a potential infestation risk, communication between different hospital departments and accurate record keeping to document any evidence of pest activity and the actions taken to achieve control. Sound and accurate assessment of infestation levels within the hospital should be carried out on a regular basis by an experienced pest control operative like Igrox. If an infestation is located further assessments are required to determine the control strategy to be adopted. These can be split into two categories – chemical and non-chemical. NON-CHEMICAL Simple improvements in hygiene may be all that is necessary to eliminate the pests altogether. Fruit fly infestations require rotting fruits or tale milk to become established, by removing such items complete control will be achieved. In other cases such as pigeon control denying the birds access to favoured roosting sites can be achieved by fitting a number of anti-perching devices to ledges and windowsills. The installation of fly screens may be all that is required to keep flying insects out of an area. Permanent trapping systems such as electronic fly killers may also be considered in areas, which have frequent access, by staff or deliveries from external areas. CHEMICAL Chemical control involves the use of pesticides. Several different pesticide formulations exist and an assessment should be made to determine the best one to use in a given situation. Products should be chosen to give the best control with the minimum risk to patients and staff. The choice of product includes the most suitable formulation and the best application technique. For these reasons chemical control should only be carried out by a reputable pest control contractor.
