Re-emergence of bedbugs creates pest-control issues

Hotel & Motel Management, May 17, 2004 by Elaine Yetzer Simon

Bedbugs--just hearing the word is enough to put fear in the hearts of hoteliers, from economy properties to the most upscale hotels. Unfortunately, the number of hotels becoming infested with bedbugs is on the rise.

"The saying 'Don't let the bedbugs bite' is based in fact," said Stoy Hedges, manager of technical services for Terminix International. "After World War II, bedbugs kind of went away. Now, they are making a resurgence. Every year, we have more and more calls."

The higher bedbug numbers are caused by a combination of factors.

"Cheaper travel and the lack of use of residual pesticides in hotel rooms [are why]," according to Matt Remmen, technical services manager for Western Pest Services. "Most companies are getting away from spraying the rooms every month. That's a good thing, but because there is a lack of that background pesticide, they aren't killed."

Bedbugs typically are spread when they hop aboard a person's luggage at an infested location and that person takes the luggage to another location. Once they invade a hotel, they can travel from room to room, infesting each as they go.

"It doesn't matter what type of hotel, it can be a low-rent motel to a five-star hotel," Hedges said. "They crawl out, get established in a room, and it's awhile before anyone notices. By then, they are in more rooms. They are secretive in their habits."

Part of the problem, according to Hedges, is that they can go months without feeding, so just letting a room sit empty does not relieve the problem.

Signs and fixes

Today, bedbugs enter hotels on guests' belongings as eggs or small nymphs that later develop into the adult insects, according to S. John Barcay, senior scientist with Ecolab. Bedbugs cannot fly, so they either crawl or are carried from place to place. They can be introduced into rooms without being detected for some time, allowing them to reproduce and become well established.

"The best way to do it is to use your pest-control operator to educate your staff," Remmen said. "There are some signs of them, such as fecal droppings on the mattress and box springs and on the headboard. If you keep a watch out for them, you can take care of the problem before a guest notices them."

Barcay agreed that vigilance is required.

"Bedbugs are not pests due to poor sanitation and cannot be prevented from entering with guests," he said. "But proactive inspections by housekeeping staff through training from pest-control providers can prevent bed bug infestations from becoming well established. Proactive inspections by the pest control providers is also an option."

"Bedbugs can only be prevented if housekeeping has been trained to spot them," said Mike McGuinness, technical director for pest prevention for Steritech. "Once they have been found, it requires a detailed service by a pest vendor."

Hedges agreed that the pest-control company is necessary for removal of bedbugs.

"[Hoteliers] need to be aware that if [an infestation] does happen, you need a pest-control company to come in," he said. "It's not just a room that's infected. You need to treat the ones on either side and above and below. They can get in the walls and use wiring to get from place to place."

He said it's very important that the beds are completely disassembled and gone over thoroughly as part of the removal process because young bedbug nymphs can hide in very tiny cracks.

If bedbugs are found to be infesting a room or rooms, then the pest-control provider should be notified and asked to perform an inspection and related service, according to Barcay.

"Bedbug treatments are very demanding and complex," he said. "Elimination of the problem requires detailed and lengthy procedures that only quality pest-control companies have the experience and training to provide."

When dealing with pest-control companies, however, Frank Meek, national pest control technical manager for Orkin, had one caveat.

"Hotel managers should be wary of pest control companies that say they can prevent bedbug infestations because the fact is, bedbugs can arrive anytime a new guest checks in," he said. "Bedbugs are great hitchhikers and can travel long distances on a hotel guest or in a guest's baggage. Once inside a hotel, bedbugs spread rapidly.

"Every room that touches a room infested with bedbugs must be treated. And the sooner the better."

Good riddance

Once bedbugs are discovered at a hotel, the following steps are recommended:

* Have an expert train hotel staff to immediately recognize and report infestations.

* Replace all infested mattresses, or have them treated with steam or a non-chemical solution.

* Bag all infested bedding, and either discard or wash in hot water. Bedspreads can be tumble-dried for 30 minutes at a minimum 120 degrees Fahrenheit so that bedbugs are killed. Then wash bedspreads in hot water.

* Have chair cushions, sofas (including sofa beds) and love seats treated with steam or nonchemical solution around the seams and any buttons.

* Have bed frames treated with a residual dust formulation.