Bed Bugs Causing Problems at Hospitals

Hospitals have been increasingly plagued by the problem of bed bugs, according to a report from Marketwatch. 

The article cites information from the National Pest Management Association, noting that more than a third of pest management companies treated bed bug infestations in hospitals throughout 2012, a 6 percent increase from 2011, and more than twice as many in 2010. The problem dovetails with increased pressure under the Affordable Care Act, as hospitals are cracking down on issues that could increase the risk of patient infections, which could potentially lead to reduced federal funding under the new law.

"While bed bugs have not been found to transmit infections to humans, they leave itchy bites after feeding on people's blood, which can lead to secondary infections when victims scratch, opening themselves up to bacteria," Marketwatch writes.

Read the full story here.