by Tim Husen, PhD, BCE – Technical Services Manager, Orkin, LLC
For healthcare facilities, fall and winter are times of vulnerability to rodent infestations. Just like humans, rodents seek shelter indoors when outdoor temperatures drop. In addition to potentially impacting online patient reviews and damaging public perception, rodents could impact audit scores, cause expensive property da
mage and spread disease – all costly consequences for a healthcare facility. One look at Orkin’s Top 50 Rattiest Cities list shows rodents are a nationwide problem and are something healthcare facilities need to watch for.
Rodents pose serious health risks and are known to transmit more than 35 diseases, including hantavirus, Salmonella and rat-bite fever, through their droppings, saliva and urine. While it may seem like an outdated threat, the Bubonic Plague is still transmitted by rodents as well, with a recent outbreak in Madagascar infecting hundreds of people.
In terms of property damage, rodents can chew on building materials and electrical wiring. In fact, one in four fires is believed to be started by rodent-damaged electrical wires. These destructive vermin also cause damage as they burrow under a building’s foundation and tunnel through walls and ceilings. Needless to say, it’s no surprise that rodent control is a $337 million business in the United States.
The good news is that there are steps you can take to prevent rodent activity. First, you need to know how to identify a rodent problem. Here are the signs that rodents might be the newest patients in your facility:
- Droppings – Rats and mice can produce as many as 50 “pellets” a day. Droppings are the most common sign of rodent activity and often are found in areas with high foraging activity.
- Gnaw marks – Rats constantly chew to wear down their ever-growing incisors. Rodent gnawing leaves shallow, parallel grooves, and their favorite objects to chew on include wooden structures, electrical wires, plastic, cardboard, aluminum and lead.
- Grease marks – Rodents are creatures of habit and will repeatedly use the same pathways between their nest and food sources. In the process, they leave grease marks as their oily bodies rub against surfaces like walls, stairways, burrow openings and the bottom of joists.
- Burrows – Rat burrows can be found next to walls, along foundations and beneath slab, debris or shrubbery. To tell if a burrow is active, stuff some paper into the hole and see if it is still there a few days later.
- Urine Stains – Rodent urine is often left behind on the paths these pests frequently travel. House mice activity can even result in a build-up of urine and grease called “urine pillars.”
The key to preventing rodent activity is to keep rats and mice from getting inside in the first place. To do that, implement an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan that includes exclusion, maintenance and sanitation techniques. These non-chemical techniques, in combination with proper landscape design, are especially helpful for healthcare facilities that are sensitive to chemical solutions.
Here are a few tips to get you started:
- Seal entry points. Rats can fit through holes the size of a quarter, and mice just need openings the size of a dime to squeeze inside. If necessary, they may even chew their way in!
- Reduce clutter. Rodents will take advantage of these harborage areas, particularly cluttered closets that store boxes or food.
- Take care of the trash. Take out the garbage routinely and make sure trash cans have tight fitting lids and are cleaned regularly.
- Clean up crumbs. Food should be stored in sealed containers, and snack foods should be stored or discarded at the end of the day. Pay special attention to patient rooms.
- Rodent-proof the building. There are many ways to block rodents from gaining entry. Examples
- include door sweeps or brush guards on entry and loading dock doors and installing plastic, one-way rodent-proofing valves in toilets to help prevent rodents from entering through the sewer.
To make sure your facility is properly defended against rodents, schedule a meeting with your pest management provider. They can help you create an IPM plan that is unique to your facility, offer additional rodent-proofing suggestions and schedule a training with your staff. At the end of the day, keeping rodents outside in the cold is the best way to avoid a problem.
Tim Husen is Technical Services Manager for Orkin. A board-certified entomologist specializing in urban entomology, he has more than a decade of experience in the industry. For more information, email [email protected] or visit www.orkincommercial.com.
