In related news, member firms should be aware of a recent study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that found drug-resistant staph bacteria in bed bugs. The study received widespread coverage in the media.
Should firms receive inquiries from concerned residents, it is important to explain that the study was a very small-scale one based on just five bed bugs collected from three patients. Most importantly, the bed bugs were not directly implicated in the spread of any infection.
The findings in this study underscore NAA/NMHC’s message that federal support for additional research on these bugs, including the development of safe and reliable chemical interventions, is essential.