A Door-to-Door Survey of Bed Bug (Cimex lectularius) Infestations in Row Homes in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Yage Wu Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Dylan M. Tracy Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Alexis M. Barbarin Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Corentin M. Barbu Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Michael Z. Levy Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.13-0714
Volume/Issue:
Volume 91: Issue 1
Page(s):
206–210
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We conducted a door-to-door survey in a residential census tract of Philadelphia to estimate the prevalence and spatial patterns of recent bed bug infestations. We interviewed 596 residents, of whom 66 (11.1%) reported recent bed bug infestations. We confirmed current infestations in a subset of 15 (68.2%) of 22 inspected households. Most residents reported that their infestation began within the past year (2012–2013). We found no correlation between property value and infestation status. Spatial analyses showed significant clustering of bed bug infestations only at fine scales, suggesting limited active dispersal of the insects. Residents used a large variety of treatment methods to eliminate bed bugs, but only 48.1% reported success. Our results provide a prevalence estimate of recent bed bug infestations and highlight the importance of passive rather than active dispersal of bed bugs even among dense urban row homes.

Author Notes

* Address correspondence to Michael Z. Levy, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Blockley Hall, 423 Guardian Drive, Philadelphia, PA 19104. E-mail: mzlevy@mail.med.upenn.edu
† These authors contributed equally to this work.

Financial support: This study was supported by the University of Pennsylvania University Research Fund.

Authors' addresses: Yage Yu, Dylan M. Tracy, Corentin M. Barbu, and Michael Z. Levy, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, E-mails: yawu@sas.upenn.edu, tradylan@sas.upenn.edu, corentin.barbu@gmail.com, and mzlevy@mail.med.upenn.edu. Alexis M. Barbarin, Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, E-mail: alexis_barbarin@ncsu.edu.

Copyright:
© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2014
Received:
06 Dec 2013
|
Accepted:
16 Mar 2014
|
Published Online:
02 Jul 2014
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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