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: turcatox@hotmail.com

Marcelo Pierotto E-mail: unidadtoxicoambiental@yahoo.com Hospital website: http://hospitaldeninos.com.ar/hn/index.php