HI Catherine,
Did you mean bed bugs? Even those do not require long decontamination since they can live forever and scurry off to little hidey holes. I recently wrote a policy on scabies, lice and bed bugs for our clinics and mobile health unit. It has not been signed off yet so can't share at this point but I did a lot of research. No, it was not a fun protocol to write. Scabies is direct contact spread and so avoid linens in the room and wipe down thoroughly after visit is all that we require. There should not be a need for a wait time. Same with lice and body lice. Bed bugs are different and since we have so many pts presenting we qualified when professional services were called for.
Hope that helps. There is not a lot of info out there for clinic situations.
CDC: Scabies usually is spread by direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with a person who has scabies. Contact generally must be prolonged; a quick handshake or hug usually will not spread scabies. Scabies is spread easily to sexual partners and household members. Scabies in adults frequently is sexually acquired. Scabies sometimes is spread indirectly by sharing articles such as clothing, towels, or bedding used by an infested person; however, such indirect spread can occur much more easily when the infested person has crusted scabies.
------------------------------
Rebekah Sherman
Director of Nursing
La Clinica de Valle
Medford OR
(541)221-3040
------------------------------
Original Message:
Sent: 06-03-2023 06:42
From: Catherine Crespo
Subject: Scabies room decontamination
We are an extremely busy non profit healthcare clinic. Wondering if anyone has a specific scabies exam room decontamination protocol/process that allows for same day or at least 24 hour re-entry/access of the room.
Catherine Crespo RN
Chapa-De Indian Health
Auburn, CA
ccrespo@chapa-de.ORG
Sent from my iPhone