Bed Bugs: Prevention, Treatment, and Education

Course overview

Bed bugs are a pervasive nuisance in the U.S. and across the globe. The prototypical arthropod species Cimex lectularius looks similar to miniature cockroaches and feeds on the blood of humans and some animals. Bed bugs tend to live in areas of poor sanitation and overcrowding, but this is not a universal rule. Bed bugs can infest any type of home, commercial entity, or healthcare establishment, and traveling can increase the risk of spreading these pests. Healthcare providers should be aware of their prevalence and also be able to recognize the physical presentation of bed bug bites. It is also important to have knowledge of ways to prevent and treat bed bug infestations.