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Part one of a two-part series on “Yuck-ology”
If visions of blood-hungry bedbugs feasting on you while you sleep don’t keep you awake in your hotel room, the latest news about the little vampires might. Researchers recently cultured a sample of bedbugs and found MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), the stubborn staph strain of bacteria that can cause skin—and sometimes deadly systemic—infections. And bedbugs are a growing problem in more cities across the United States this summer, according to pest control experts.
New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Chicago topped pest control company Terminex’s list of most bedbug-infested cities, but the bedbug problem is no longer “over there.” Houston (#18), Dallas/Fort Worth (#29) and Austin (#44) made Orkin’s top 50.
By now, you may be thinking of taking a staycation, but before bedbug terror puts your summer travel plans on hold, keep reading for a lesson in Bedbug 101. Find out how dangerous bedbugs really are, how to spot the nasty little critters, treat their bites and, finally, how to avoid taking them home with you.
First things first. Do the little creatures spread disease? Until recently, bedbugs have been considered mostly a nuisance—an itchy, scratchy nuisance seemingly impossible to eradicate from bed linens and clothes—but only a nuisance.
However, a recent study in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases found that cultures from a sample of bedbugs obtained from residents of a homeless shelter revealed MRSA—raising fears that the bedbugs might spread the bacteria to humans.
Much more research needs to be done before bedbugs can be considered a “vector” for bacteria—an organism that transmits a pathogen (think “mosquito” as a vector for malaria), says infectious disease specialist Charles Ericsson, MD, professor of medicine and director of the travel medicine clinic at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) Medical School. The study shows that the bedbugs are colonized by MRSA bacteria, he explains, which they could pick up by walking on a bed or on a person. That doesn’t mean bedbugs are spreading MRSA to humans.
“Staphylococcus germs are all over our skin routinely,” Ericsson says. “And if we are sleeping in the bed, we are going to leave staph germs in the bed. And we now know that plenty of people are colonized by MRSA as well. It doesn’t mean that they are going to get sick from it.”
“We need to be frustrated [by the existence of bedbugs] and be alert to the nuisance factor of bedbugs,” he continues. “But so far, I think you can be reassured. You may be grossed out by the thought of being bitten by bedbugs, but the chances are you will not get sick from a bite, with the exception of an allergic reaction to the bite itself.”
While bedbug bites are usually not life-threatening, they sure can spoil a vacation. No one wants to wake from their peaceful sleep in a pricey hotel room to find red, itchy, flea-like bites all over one’s body.
While bedbugs feed at night, you usually can’t feel the bite because the bedbug injects an anesthetic and an anticoagulant that prevents you from realizing you’re under attack. When day comes, the bedbugs go back into hiding in the bed linens, box springs, pillows or furniture around the bed. They don’t burrow into the skin like scabies or fleas.
“They just come out to feed and then go back,” Ericsson says. “You are not going to find them on your body. You are not going to find them feeding on you.”
The bite looks similar to that of a mosquito or a flea. It causes a slightly swollen area that is very itchy. The bites can appear in a straight line or they may be random, and they may not appear for several days after you are bitten. Some people may have a stronger (allergic) reaction to bedbug bites than others, especially people with a history of allergies.
(Source: Terminex)
To deal with bedbug bites, avoid scratching them (easier said than done); this can lead to infection. Like other bug bites, you can treat them with antiseptic creams or lotions or take an antihistamine if you have received many bites and are scratching frequently. See your doctor if you have an unusual reaction to the bites or if you believe a bite has become infected.
“You don’t have to be staying in a youth hostel or a homeless shelter to find bedbugs,” Ericsson says. “These things can pop up in the finest hotels, so if you are on the road, it is not unwise to check for them.”
High-traffic areas such as hotels, motels, airplanes and cruise ships are most susceptible to infestations, because bedbugs can cling to a traveler’s clothes or luggage. When planning your trip, you can also check out websites like TripAdvisor to read reviews of where bedbugs have been found.
Once in your room, inspect it carefully and look closely for bedbugs. Finding them isn’t easy, Ericsson adds. Bedbugs are tiny—ranging from 1 to 7 millimeters—“about as big as the head of an eraser.”
Chances are you won’t see the bedbugs, but you may see their calling cards: little spots of blood on a mattress, or the bedbugs’ exoskeletons they shed when they molt. If you don’t notice them on the sheets, pull the sheets totally off the mattress and look on and under the mattress. Pay particular attention to the ribbing and seams of the mattress edge.
Check nearby electrical sockets, lamps, bedside furniture and behind the headboards and footboards. If you find bedbugs, inform the hotel management and ask for another room. Inspect the new room as well. If you still see signs of bedbugs, you should find another place to spend the night.
The last keepsake you want to bring home with you from your vacation is a bug collection. Bedbugs travel by hitching rides from one location to the next.
Bruce Brown, MPH, director of UTHealth Environmental Health & Safety says, “The best method of prevention is to not bring them home with you in the first place.”
Brown recommends the following steps to avoid a post-vacation infestation:
Send us your questions for the experts, comments or suggestions.
Last Updated: 6-15-2011
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), the most comprehensive academic health center in The UT System and the U.S. Gulf Coast region, is home to schools of biomedical informatics, biomedical sciences, dentistry, medicine, nursing and public health. UTHealth educates more healthcare professionals than any health-related institution in the State of Texas and features the nation’s seventh-largest medical school. It also includes a psychiatric hospital and a growing network of clinics throughout the region. The university’s primary teaching hospitals include Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital. Founded in 1972, UTHealth’s 10,000-plus faculty, staff, students and residents are committed to delivering innovative solutions that create the best hope for a healthier future.
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Dr. Charles D. Ericsson is professor and clinical director of infectious diseases at the UTHealth Medical School.
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Bruce Brown is director of UTHealth Environmental Health & Safety.
Health Benefits
of Water-Based Exercise
Cdc.gov explains that swimming is the second most popular sports activity in the United States and reports that people enjoy water-based exercise more than exercising on land. Also, our bodies let us exercise for a longer time in water than on land without increased effort or joint and/or muscle pain.
Benefits of water-based exercise include:
When in the water, remember to protect yourself and others from illness and injury by practicing healthy and safe swimming behaviors.
