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Risk Factors for Bed Bugs Among Urban Emergency Department Patients

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Abstract

Bed bugs are a significant and under-studied public health nuisance. We surveyed 706 emergency department patients and found bed bug infestations were more likely (p < 0.05) among subjects having persons 19–64 years of age in the house, living in a group home, a previous history with bed bugs, and knowing someone who currently has bed bugs. Sleeping in a hotel, recent homelessness, obtaining used clothing or furniture and using a laundromat were not associated with increased risk (p > 0.05) for infestation. Individuals with less education and income were more likely (p < 0.05) to have bed bugs and express concern about getting bed bugs. Younger persons were more likely to correctly identify a picture of a bed bug compared to those over the age of 60 years (p < 0.001).

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Acknowledgements

We thank Jacqui Lingler for her assistance on the study. The study was internally funded by the Department of Emergency Medicine at the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, 11100 Euclid Ave., B-517, Cleveland, OH, 44139, USA

    Johnathan M. Sheele & Brianna L. Arko

  2. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 44139, USA

    Cameron J. Crandall, Brandon F. Chang, Colin T. Dunn & Alejandro Negrete

  3. Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA

    Johnathan M. Sheele

Authors
  1. Johnathan M. Sheele
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  2. Cameron J. Crandall
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  3. Brandon F. Chang
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  4. Brianna L. Arko
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  5. Colin T. Dunn
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  6. Alejandro Negrete
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Correspondence to Johnathan M. Sheele.

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Sheele, J.M., Crandall, C.J., Chang, B.F. et al. Risk Factors for Bed Bugs Among Urban Emergency Department Patients. J Community Health 44, 1061–1068 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-019-00681-2

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