5 Questions with Dr. Jamel Sandidge

1. Why are bio-sanitation, sanitation and disinfection so important to Integrated Pest Management?

As pest management professionals, we are on the front line of protection. We are called on each day to anticipate and prevent infestations, damage and economic impact, as well as to protect and improve health and safety. In addition to stopping the spread of insect- and parasite-borne diseases, we have seen that this industry is ready, willing and able to combat threats from bacterial, viral and fungal pathogens.

Bio-sanitation has become a vital part of pest management services to reduce organic buildup and biofilm on surfaces and drains that many pests use for food and breeding. It just so happens that the very same buildup and biofilms also help protect pathogens from effective disinfection and elimination. Combining bio-sanitation, sanitation and disinfection services with pest services such as cockroach cleanouts or rodent work is a natural, mutually beneficial evolution to IPM practices that make both types of services more effective.

2. How can these types of services help protect both technicians and customers?

In many environments, diseases are transmitted when insects walk, feed and breed on contaminated surfaces and biofilm. There are two solutions to this problem: eliminate the pathogen directly through sanitation and disinfection and eliminate the pest and the pests’ habitat and breeding materials using pesticides, habitat modification and bio-sanitation. Both approaches are vital to the mission of preventing pathogens from finding their way onto human contact areas, and strategic decisions can reinforce the success of either option. For instance, by applying a bio-sanitation foam such as Foam Fresh® to the spots like garbage disposals or drain plates, you can not only eliminate resources for small flies, but you can also break down decaying organic matter that can pose risks to human health.

3. What role do these services play in dealing with rodents and wildlife activity?

Much like insects, rodents and other wildlife harbor and transmit disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Rodents and other wildlife also contaminate surfaces with feces, urine, nesting materials and other organic material. Eliminating the threat of pathogens after animal trapping or exclusion is an essential role of the PMP. Using products such as Nisus DSV™ on hard surfaces or Steri-fab® on soft surfaces such as upholstery or carpet, for example, is an additional step that helps protect your customers and your technicians from the dangers posed by wildlife or rodent waste, while also providing additional benefits such as deodorizing and limiting opportunities for reinfestation. Leveraging your experience in pest behaviors and your knowledge of the available products and techniques enables you to provide your accounts with effective strategies and services.

4. What are some overlooked aspects of cockroach cleanouts?

I think it’s important to look at the very phrase “cleanout.” We associate cockroach cleanouts with eliminating pests. However, there is often an overlooked pest left behind hiding in the filth of a satisfying cockroach slaying: the many disease-causing pathogens that cockroaches may carry. Adding disinfection, sanitation and bio-sanitation to your cockroach services is a great way to help protect the public while increasing your profits and bolstering your reputation for thorough, effective and successful pest management services. Nisus not only offers a line of products for disinfection, sanitation and bio-sanitation, but also provides resources such as bio-sanitation and disinfection protocols and application guides that can help get new services off the ground and available to your customers.

5. How can these services benefit small fly and cockroach work?

By performing vital services such as bio-sanitation and the cleaning and disinfecting of drains and surfaces, you simultaneously eliminate the pest, the biofilm and organic matter, all while helping to prevent future issues.