Daily Archives: February 13, 2012

There is concern Monday about just how clean an Indianapolis children’s hospital is and how safe it is for its patients.

Fox59 received photos from a man who said he and his wife have been at Riley Hospital at IU Health for the last six weeks.

The man wrote in an email that the family was at the hospital with their newborn daughter and having problems with bed bugs. In the email, he claimed the bed bugs have been a problem in their room for more than two weeks.

The family said that hospital staff recently moved them to a new room, took their clothes and shoes, and gave them a gift card to Target. The family also says they are not from their area and have no other clothes or shoes with them.

IU Health released the following statement:

"Bed bugs continue to be an issue nationwide. At Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, an incidence of bed bugs was recently discovered. To ensure the safety of our patients and families, we work closely with our infection control and environmental services departments to ensure the incident is isolated and dealt with in a timely manner."

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Bed bugs discovered at Riley Hospital at IU Health

Bed bugs were discovered this weekend at Riley Hospital for Children, an Indiana University Hospital official said this morning.

"Bed bugs continue to be an issue nationwide," said IU Health spokeswoman Abby Gras in an email. "To ensure the safety of our patients and families, we work closely with our infection control and environmental services departments to ensure the incident is isolated and dealt with in a timely manner."

A family staying at the hospital with a newborn daughter shared photos of the bedbugs and an email with WXIN (Channel 59). WXIN did not name the family in its reports, and the hospital has not named the family in responding to them.

Bed bugs are small, oval, brownish insects that live on the blood of animals or humans, according to the WebMD.com. Adult bedbugs have flat bodies about the size of an apple seed. After feeding, their bodies swell and turn a reddish color.

Although their bites cause redness and itching, the insects do not transmit diseases, according to the medical information website.

Bed bugs can be inadvertently brought home in luggage and other items after motel or hospital stays. They often hide in mattresses, box springs, bedframes and headboards. They are active mostly at night.

Cleanliness and hygiene, experts say, have no connection to incidence of bed bugs. A single stowaway ready to lay eggs can lead to an infestation in a clean and well-kept environment.

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Bed bugs found in Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis