case study hospital integrated pest management
TRANSCRIPT
Hospital Integrated Pest ManagementSantísima Trinidad
Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Agenda
Chemicals. Replace harmful chemical substances with safer alternatives.
Date of the project: September 2012.
Benefits
• After initial trainings, we reduced the entry of food into rooms and hallways by 35%.
• We found less waste outside of hampers, windows, bathrooms, and hospital rooms.
• The presence of pests in general was reduced by 50%. Ra
disappeared.
The problem Health centers are not immune to
invasions of different kinds of insect
and vermin pests, which can present
health threats to hospital personnel
and patients. However, applying
pesticides is only a partial solution,
and while not fully solving the
problem, it also creates a new one.
Pesticides are toxic substances
created to kill or repel pests. T
are not only harmful to pests but can
also harm people and the
environment. Many pesticides are
linked to conditions and chronic
illnesses like cancer, congenital
deformities, neurological and
reproductive disorders, and the
development of high sensitivity to
chemicals.
The proposed objectives to move this work forward were:
General objectives:
• Control and eliminate the presence
• Reduce infectious diseases in a way that does not diminish
Specific objectives:
Case Study
Hospital Integrated Pest Management Santísima Trinidad Children's Hospital of Córdoba (Argentina)
Global Green and Healthy Hospitals Agenda Goal:
Replace harmful chemical substances with safer alternatives.
project: September 2012.
After initial trainings, we reduced the entry of food into rooms and hallways by 35%.
We found less waste outside of hampers, windows, bathrooms, and hospital rooms.
The presence of pests in general was reduced by 50%. Rats and cockroaches have
Health centers are not immune to
invasions of different kinds of insect
and vermin pests, which can present
health threats to hospital personnel
and patients. However, applying
partial solution,
and while not fully solving the
problem, it also creates a new one.
Pesticides are toxic substances
created to kill or repel pests. They
are not only harmful to pests but can
also harm people and the
environment. Many pesticides are
and chronic
illnesses like cancer, congenital
, neurological and
reproductive disorders, and the
development of high sensitivity to
The proposed objectives to move this work forward were:
presence of pests.
in a way that does not diminish the health of the hospital.
Leftover food scraps and waste attract pests. Credit for image 1:
Santísima Trinidad Children's Hospital. See the credits for images 2,
3, 4, and 5.
Children's Hospital of Córdoba (Argentina)
After initial trainings, we reduced the entry of food into rooms and hallways by 35%.
We found less waste outside of hampers, windows, bathrooms, and hospital rooms.
ts and cockroaches have virtually
the health of the hospital.
Credit for image 1:
. See the credits for images 2,
• Design programs of prevention
inside the hospital.
• Generate an integrated management plan for urban pests in the
Hospital.
• Educate hospital personnel, patients, and their families.
The selected strategy Once the pest issue in the hospital had been widely discussed
find an alternative solution that eradicates
Pest Management (IPM) plan was selected as t
This method of controlling pests eliminates or reduces by a large margin the use of dangerous
pesticides. IPM is a proposal that is focused on the prevention and management of pests (for
both the interior and the exterior of hea
These methods include better
sanitation, structural maintenance
of the buildings, mechanical and
biological controls, and cultural
practices.
The process of implementation
To implement the selected
strategy in a successful way, we
outlined the necessary actions:
1. Detect the affected areas.
2. Come up with a diagnosis
of the situation. 3. Become familiar with the
biology of the pest, so that
the execution of the
control program is viable.
4. Design the programs. 5. Become familiar with the chemical products that could be used.
6. Provide relevant trainings.
To obtain a diagnosis of the situation, we conducted a survey of all of the sections of the
hospital. The survey included questions about the type of
frequency of the observations, the loca
Once all of the information was collected, we presented it in graphs and tables, and with the
help of the building plans, we created maps of
prevention, diagnostics, control, treatment, and tracking of pests
Generate an integrated management plan for urban pests in the Holy Trinity
Educate hospital personnel, patients, and their families.
Once the pest issue in the hospital had been widely discussed, staff agreed to a commitment t
find an alternative solution that eradicates pests without the use of pesticides.
plan was selected as the most appropriate and effective
This method of controlling pests eliminates or reduces by a large margin the use of dangerous
is a proposal that is focused on the prevention and management of pests (for
both the interior and the exterior of health establishments) through the least
include better
sanitation, structural maintenance
chanical and
biological controls, and cultural
The process of implementation To implement the selected
strategy in a successful way, we
affected areas. Come up with a diagnosis
Become familiar with the
biology of the pest, so that
the execution of the
control program is viable.
Become familiar with the chemical products that could be used. Provide relevant trainings.
of the situation, we conducted a survey of all of the sections of the
hospital. The survey included questions about the type of pest, number of pests observed
frequency of the observations, the location, schedule, and possible causes.
Once all of the information was collected, we presented it in graphs and tables, and with the
plans, we created maps of the pest issue.
In the hospital, we placed explanatory signs
, diagnostics, control, treatment, and tracking of pests
Holy Trinity Children's
staff agreed to a commitment to
pests without the use of pesticides. An Integrated
and effective choice.
This method of controlling pests eliminates or reduces by a large margin the use of dangerous
is a proposal that is focused on the prevention and management of pests (for
lth establishments) through the least toxic methods.
of the situation, we conducted a survey of all of the sections of the
number of pests observed and
Once all of the information was collected, we presented it in graphs and tables, and with the
In the hospital, we placed explanatory signs
Through the analysis of the results, we concluded that the mos
bathrooms, hallways, and hospital rooms, and that the
of the bathroom drains, the presence of
We proceeded by conducting trainings abou
informational signs, and put control measures into place. If the process included the application
of chemical substances, we opted for less toxic alternatives (for example, we no longer use
phosphorous compounds) and
focuses on eradicating the causes. Furthermore, we put into place protective measures for
people, such as disinfection and ventilation.
Some of the proposed control and protective measures were:
• Maintain a clean hospital environment
up immediately.
• Seal openings to prevent pests
pests.
• Avoid the accumulation of newspapers, m
• Put food scraps and leftovers away in closed receptacles.
• Don’t leave animal food out for prolonged periods of time. Collect it after the animals have
eaten.
• Repair any water leaks or drips to prevent pests’ access to water.
• Ensure that all of the packages
• Keep surrounding areas outside
• Do not allow firewood, bricks, or
debris to accumulate near the
hospital.
• Prune plants and trees away from
roofs.
• Food brought in by visitors
important role in this situation, and
cannot be prohibited. Therefore,
benches and chairs were placed
outside so visitors can eat their
food there.
Image 3 caption:
We conducted trainings on the problem
and its prevention.
Demographic information The Holy Trinity Children’s Hospital is located in the
in the Crisol neighborhood of the city of
the Ministry of Health of the province of
results, we concluded that the most affected locations were
bathrooms, hallways, and hospital rooms, and that the principle causes were the uncleanliness
the presence of food scraps, and a lack of hygiene and disinfection.
We proceeded by conducting trainings about how to prevent the problem. We placed
informational signs, and put control measures into place. If the process included the application
of chemical substances, we opted for less toxic alternatives (for example, we no longer use
we used a considerably smaller amount, since the program
focuses on eradicating the causes. Furthermore, we put into place protective measures for
people, such as disinfection and ventilation.
Some of the proposed control and protective measures were:
a clean hospital environment. Spills and food scraps/crumbs need to be cleaned
pests from entering the hospital and eliminates hiding places for
Avoid the accumulation of newspapers, magazines, or clothing where pests can hide.
Put food scraps and leftovers away in closed receptacles.
Don’t leave animal food out for prolonged periods of time. Collect it after the animals have
Repair any water leaks or drips to prevent pests’ access to water.
packages and bags that enter the hospital do not contain vermin.
areas outside the hospital free of waste.
Do not allow firewood, bricks, or
debris to accumulate near the
and trees away from
plays an
important role in this situation, and
Therefore,
benches and chairs were placed
outside so visitors can eat their
We conducted trainings on the problem
Children’s Hospital is located in the Bajada Pucara, at the Ferroviarios
in the Crisol neighborhood of the city of Cordoba (Argentina) and is under the jurisdiction of
the Ministry of Health of the province of Cordoba. It is a tertiary care hospital, with 228 beds.
We conducted trainings on the problem and its
t affected locations were
principle causes were the uncleanliness
food scraps, and a lack of hygiene and disinfection.
t how to prevent the problem. We placed
informational signs, and put control measures into place. If the process included the application
of chemical substances, we opted for less toxic alternatives (for example, we no longer use
a considerably smaller amount, since the program
focuses on eradicating the causes. Furthermore, we put into place protective measures for
need to be cleaned
the hospital and eliminates hiding places for
where pests can hide.
Don’t leave animal food out for prolonged periods of time. Collect it after the animals have
and bags that enter the hospital do not contain vermin.
Ferroviarios corner,
(Argentina) and is under the jurisdiction of
hospital, with 228 beds.
We conducted trainings on the problem and its prevention.
Services are provided in the following specialties: oncology, renal transplants, surgery, and
hemodialysis. It has 900 hospitalizations and 200,000 outpatient consults per month.
Key words/topics:
Pests – cockroach – scorpions – spiders – mosquitoes – pesticides – Integrated Pest
Management.
Contact information
Dr. Nilda Gait E-mail: [email protected]
Marcelo Pierotto E-mail: [email protected] Hospital website: http://hospitaldeninos.com.ar/hn/index.php