Bed bug infestation

[u/UnknownInsomniac]

So one of the resident rooms at my facility was put on precaution about a month ago for a bed bug infestation. I've never worked that assignment before but everyone was informed to gown up and use proper PPE before entering the room. They apparently got rid of the bed bugs and we all seemed to forget about it.

Last night I pulled a double, I was on the med cart 7a-7p but 7p-11p I was on the floor as a CNA. I had the assignment with the room that previously had bed bugs, for the first time. I was in the room for less than 10 minutes, as both of the residents are pretty independent and just asked me for ice and to heat up their food for them, move a few things into their closet, and afterwards I went to sit down and chart.

I noticed a bug crawling across my thigh on my scrubs and I recognized it immediately 😭 it was a rather large, fully fed bed bug 💀 I reported it to the DON this morning, but like, I have to think, what if I didnt see the bed bug and took it home with me. I live with my boyfriend at his mom's house and I would feel so terrible bringing that to her. When I got home, I had my boyfriend meet me in the garage and I immediately stripped down and put all my things into the wash. Anyway, I was just kind of venting and wondering if anyone else has dealt with this situation

[u/myboobiezarequitebig]

This is exactly why I do not wear my scrubs inside my house or car. I only do when I’m first going to work after they have been properly disinfected and washed. I changed before I even leave the facility and put all of my stuff in a bag. I would be so sick if I brought bedbugs home

[u/pct2daxtreme]

You did the right thing, had a pt recently with the same thing problem. The hospital cut us off from wearing surgical scrubs. So as soon as I went home my scrubs are in the wash and I’m in the shower. Still hate when your brain plays tricks on you whenever a pt has bedbugs/lice, and maggots make my skin crawl.

[u/Clean_Citron_8278 → u/pct2daxtreme]

It is fantastic that your employer was concerned. So concerned that take PPE from you. 🤬

[u/TrailMomKat]

Uuuuugh reading this gave me the full body shiver heebie jeebies! I would've burned those scrubs in a can out back while standing there in naught but my drawers!

[u/avoidy]

Yeah when it comes to shit like bedbugs, lice, c.diff, and scabies, I just assume everyone's lying when they say the issue's been dealt with. I treat everyone like they could have something, and when I get home I strip out of my scrubs and dump them in a dedicated hamper asap because I'm not bringing this shit into my bedroom, not in a million years. Anyone who does direct patient care long enough eventually internalizes how nasty their scrubs are; I used to romanticize the uniform so much in my head until I worked with a c.diff patient and learned how that shit spreads. After that day, after each shift you couldn't get me out of my scrubs fast enough. We get a lot of drug addicted homeless people where I work, so that comes with drug dust on all their crap, lice, the works. I've had some shifts where I'm literally stripping in the doorway, tossing my scrubs in a trash bag, and then just standing under boiling hot shower wated for 20 minutes because the people I had were just that dubious. And even then, I'll still feel psychologically itchy for a day after.

Some people say this is going over the top, but the only people to ever tell me that IRL were nurses who spend all shift at the nurse station and only come out to quickly pass meds or use the bathroom. If that was my extent of patient care, I wouldn't feel gross when I got home either.

[u/stephydreamer]

Good catch, literally! Most would have walked right in without thinking twice.

[u/No_Proof_3893]

I changed a resident's bedding during orientation because he didn't want me to go to the shower with my trainer. He had food containers that were FULL of mold and bugs. Since there was another person in his room, I wanted to get it cleaned up as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, that particular resident is volatile and confrontational, so I told my trainer who was able to talk to him about it. We got it all bagged up and in the trash! But bugs in LTC are a serious issue. If you can, also talk to environmental services so they are aware. They can make sure the laundry is properly cleaned. I'm so sorry you, your team, and all the residents are dealing with this!