Understanding Dust Mites: Essential Steps to Combat Their Impact

Did you know that fall is the peak season for dust mites to threaten your healthcare facility? While we often associate dust mites with neglected cleaning and as a year-round nuisance, the transition between seasons is a particularly important time to consider protecting your facility’s patients and staff from the dangers of dust mites in our healthcare settings. 

In this blog, we will discuss dust mites and their impact on indoor air quality and provide knowledge and practical solutions to prepare your medical facility for its peak season in the autumn months. 

Dust Mites 101

So, what exactly is a dust mite? Not to be confused with dust itself, dust mites are tiny, insect-like pests that consume human skin flakes and thrive in warm, humid environments. Dust mites' invisibility to the naked eye and their knack for triggering allergic reactions makes them particularly threatening. While they are not the same as parasites that might bite, sting, or burrow into our skin, they can cause a major nuisance, particularly in healthcare. Have you ever experienced sneezing, coughing, or irritation because of dust? Those reactions result from inhaling dust proteins in dust mite feces, urine, or decomposing bodies. 

Dust mites make their home in beds, carpets, curtains, and upholstered furniture. Even more shocking, according to the American Lung Association, roughly four out of five homes in the U.S. have dust mite allergens in at least one bed. Yes, you read that correctly. That’s about 80%. Imagine how many more have the potential to invade a large-scale medical center or hospital. Add in immunocompromised patients; these little pests can go from an annoyance to a major risk factor in no time. 

Whether you’re well aware of dust mites and looking for solutions or just beginning to explore the potential harm that they can cause, your facility must have a strategy in place to keep dust mites at bay in order to maintain a safe and healthy environment for everyone inside. 

Tiny but Toxic: The Risks of Dust Mites

You already know that indoor air quality can make or break the health of those living and working in the space. But, while particles like pollen, fibers, and pet dander are common culprits, dust and dust mites can be forgotten about or overlooked in a medical setting. Dust can be particularly insidious if it is not properly dealt with promptly. 

Year-round, but this time of year especially, it’s important to understand the risks of indoor dust mites so that medical facilities can better protect patients and staff. Dust mites bring many issues if not properly dealt with, including potential irritation, HVAC trouble, and decreased productivity. 

Irritation and Allergies

If inhaled, dust mites can irritate the respiratory system, exacerbate allergies, and lead to long-term health conditions if not managed. While dust mites can annoy your medical teams and staff, the real danger comes when dust mites irritate already vulnerable patients with lowered immune systems. 

HVAC Trouble

Accumulated dust can choke your HVAC systems, reducing efficiency and higher maintenance costs. For example, High-efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters typically require changing every 3-6 months, but if they’re clogged with dust, you’ll need to shoulder the task (and expense) of replacing them more frequently and dealing with potentially less efficiency because of the clog. You’ve taken the time, energy, and budget to put filtration and temperature controls in place, so it’s important to ensure they’re properly maintained and protected from the damage that excessive dust and dust mites can cause. Help your maintenance budget go further by removing dust mites wherever possible, and you’ll prevent excessive wear and tear on your HVAC systems. 

Decreased Productivity

Poor air quality quickly hampers productivity — a critical concern for healthcare facilities where precision and focus are key. As you know, it is more difficult to focus if you’re fighting irritation or allergic reactions. Set your teams up for success by creating the healthiest work environment possible to maximize their health and productivity. 

Removing Dust Mites from the Environment

We know dust mites are harmful and must be removed and prevented in a healthcare setting, but what is the best way to do it? The most effective way to rid your medical center or hospital of dust mites is simply getting rid of any place they may try to settle in. Another way is to use infection control solutions to prevent and remove dust mites. Preventing dust from espacing facility projects or using air filtration in high-risk places to remove dirty air and to push clean air into those environments. You can eliminate the issue by removing potential habitats — carpets, drapes, upholstered furniture, etc. — or covering pillows and mattresses in mite-impermeable covers. In a healthcare setting where patient well-being is a top priority, these are your best defense against dust mites. 

That being said, removing absolutely every soft surface is a big ask and is often only partially realistic. Patients need a place to sleep, bedding, towels, and similar items to stay comfortable in healthcare spaces. So, what else can we do to prevent dust mites? While physical interventions like freezing and heating sound promising, there's no clinical evidence that these measures make a marked difference. 

Instead, consider trying one or more of the following: 

• Vacuum Regularly: By removing dust and debris from surfaces, you can better control the areas where dust mites may make their home. Even better? Use a vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter for maximum impact. 
• Use Dust Containment and Air Filtration Equipment: Equipping your facility with dust containment equipment will provide a place to contain dust from the building while working on construction projects. While using air filtration equipment, you can ensure your facility pumps clean air and prevents particles and pathogens from forming.
• Wash Bedding and Linens: Hot water is your best friend here. Ensure that all bedding and linens are washed regularly.
• Reduce Humidity: Dust mites hate dry air. Utilize dehumidifiers to maintain an environment where they cannot thrive.

If you are dealing with a patient who has an allergy to dust or dust mites, you’ll want to take great care to implement these preventative measures and stay on top of cleaning and humidity levels as best as possible. 

Protect Your Facility Against Dust Mites 

As we approach dust mite peak season, keeping dust mites at bay can feel overwhelming, especially with the responsibility falling largely on facility managers to put systems and preventative measures in place. However, adopting a few simple strategies can ensure a safer, healthier indoor environment. Whether you’re ripping out carpet or taking steps to vacuum more often, every action you take can help to create a healthier medical center for everyone. 

Looking to take your indoor air quality to the next level? Download our guide to optimal air filtration today to learn more about filtering dust mites and other airborne particles and threats from your facility’s indoor air.