Hello! White vinegar and distilled water was recommended . It is so important to clean equipment regularly to lessen the chance of other irritants , infections.

If you use a CPAP, APAP or BiPAP, we were instructed to empty the water in the humidifier reservoir EVERY day and leave the humidifier unit lid open, so the reservoir can completely dry. You can also detach your tubing from the PAP machine to allow the inside to dry, if it will not dry with the humidifier unit open.

We were instructed to only use distilled water in the humidifier reservoir and to clean the tubing, mask and humidifier reservoir regularly with soap, white vinegar (5% acidity) and hot water. Soak for 30 minutes and rinse thoroughly with warm water.

This is how I clean my nebulizer and inhaler spacer also.

I too have been very concerned about cleaning equipment, mainly the nebulizer and airway clearance device, I have an acapella, not an aerobika but no CPAP etc. When I expressed my concern that I cant clean my acapella device to my pulmonologist, his answer was to "not breathe in, just blow out" which is a ridiculously stupid answer. I have been a licensed health care professional for 30+ years and I almost feel out of my chair with his response. I do know that a 10% solution of bleach and water will kill the most virulent pathogen. I just dont know if I want to be breathing the residue into my lungs? One youtube video said to put them through the dishwasher, but again do we want to nebulize the dish detergent residue?

I would love to hear from others what they have been told and what works

Rich the acapella can be cleaned. Its in this video a ways..

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1NDCM_enUS783U...

Kandy,

Thanks for the reply, I saw several youtube videos on cleaning the Acapella device, but the one I have does not come apart. Soaking it is my best bet, but in what is the answer?

At the recent World Bronchiectasis/NTM conference in Washington DC, a discussion came up during patient presentations about cleaning our treatment equipment. A nurse from Canada said washing with detergent and soaking in alcohol would remove NTM; I responded that in between washing with detergent and boiling for 10 minutes, I rinse with sterile water.

Following this discussion, I contacted Dr. Joseph Falkinham, Microbiologist at Va Tech and after many emails back and forth this is my take away.

Both Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and NTM create bio-films. At least every 30 days, soak equipment for 5 minutes in any detergent to disrupt the bio-films, add Clorox for additional 5 minutes and rinse in sterile water until all odor of either is gone. This will greatly reduce the numbers of bacteria. Or after cleaning with detergent boil for 10 minutes to rid the equipment of NTM.

Alcohol or rinsing with sterile water will not remove the bio-films but probably would reduce the numbers of bacteria present. However, Dr. Falkinham is not aware of any studies on alcohol or dishwashers for promoting sterilization but says it would reduce the numbers of the bacteria. The bacteria is all around us as earlier studies have shown.

With this info, and planning a bike trip and safari in South Africa, I plan to rinse my equipment with sterile water until I reach Capetown half way thru. Clean equipmentwith detergent by soaking 5 minutes and boil for 10 minutes and I feel confident I am doing due diligence with cleaning my equipment. I can buy sterile water at the pharmacies in South Africa and Europe but then I hit 44 pound weight restrictions as I fly to Game Reserve Camp.

I ordered from Amazon for $14.00 a 500 watt water heater immersion stainless steel coil. I also found a stainless steel thermos that I can boil 20 oz of water for 10 minutes ( end up with 16 oz) and the thermos shell does not get hot and I have rid the water of NTM. The water heater has a shut off on the cord so I can shut it off easily and let the water cool. Goal is to no longer need to carry a liter of sterile water for every two days and the bonus of being able to heat my irrigation water quickly without searching for microwave.

Water Immersion Heater

I also want to add that at the conference in July, the worldwide consensus is 7% saline nebulized is highly recommended and any form of airway clearance. No one could present definitive, conclusive evidence that any one airway clearance method was better than another. Just do it! The same with exercise, it is also a form of airway clearance. Just do it, whatever works for you. For me it is biking, pilates and walking, in addition to nebulizer and mechanical airway clearance, they all create airway clearance for me.

Distilled water is not sterile or free of NTM or pseudomonas.

My two cents.

Chris Heuple

Patient with Pseudomonas Aeruginosa in sinuses and lungs.

I treat

Sinuses with warm saline sinus rinse BID

Lungs and sinuses with 7% nebulized saline with mask BId Every two weeks I add two weeks of TOBI (tobramycin) nebulized BID

Mechanical Airway Clearance - ‘Aerobika’ when I travel and ‘The Vest’ when I’m home. Along with huff coughs

For exercise Biking, hiking, pilates, weight training, and kayaking.

Chris,

Thank you so much for the update on cleaning equipment! Many need to reminded of the importance of cleaning devices. It can be time consuming , but so absolutely necessary. Enjoy your trip bike trip to South Africa- it sounds wonderful! Please keep us posted on your travels. I am so glad that you are able to do this bike trip- you are tan inspiration for many patients; there are such varied outcomes on how NTM impacts the quality of life for patients. You are offering the gift of HOPE for some. Enjoy!

Hi y’all! I just ordered this machine for cleaning my Acapella and nebulizer equipment. Crossing my fingers it works well! ✌️💙🧩.

Munchkin Clean Electric Baby Bottle Sterilizer, Includes Heat-Resistant Handle and Tongs, White

HastyRetreat,

I hope the cleaning equipment works well for you. Keep us posted.