Bedbug infestations rising, may spread MRSA infection, warn scientists

Hindustan Times reports that bedbug infestations are increasing globally, with this time of year being the worst. Scientists are now concerned the pests could spread methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), an antibiotic-resistant infection. University of South Dakota researchers demonstrated in a 2023 study that bedbugs can acquire MRSA during one feeding and transmit it during a later one, though follow-up research is needed to confirm actual human transmission.

The reddish-brown bloodsuckers, about the size of an apple seed, hide in crevices and emerge at night. While bites are painless, they can cause itchy welts in some people. A 2020 French case report described a 70-year-old man who developed severe anemia from chronic blood loss due to thousands of bedbugs in his home. There is no clear evidence yet that bedbugs spread diseases between people, as their digestion and anatomy limit germ transmission, said entomologist Chow-Yang Lee of the University of California at Riverside.

After World War II, widespread DDT use decimated bedbug populations, but the pesticide was banned in the US in 1972 due to environmental concerns. Bedbugs have developed resistance to DDT and other insecticides, driving a resurgence, Lee added. Experts advise travelers to check hotel rooms for bugs or fecal spots, avoid placing luggage on beds, and wash clothes immediately upon returning home to prevent infestations.