Whaa the best way to keep neb cups clean?

carly23

New member
So im seeing how everyone keeps there nebs and equipment clean..i have mrsa so i need to be extra sanitary..i do have a nuk steralizer and for right now i wash my neb cups in warm soapy water and then rinse with regular tap water and then place them on the steralizer is this not enough or am i doing wrong? Please share your thought..is distilled water better then tap water?
 

Jana

New member
What you're doing is fine. I do it the same way but put them in the germ guardian after the sterilizer. Although it says it's not to be used to dry toys, it gets neb parts slightly damp from the sterilizer completely dry. I usually leave them a few minutes after sterilizing to get most of the moisture off, then put them in the germ guardian, run the cycle, and leave them in there until my next treatment.

As long as you let them completely dry after sterilizing, it doesn't matter if you do that step or not. I use distilled water in my sterilizer because it avoids the problem of building up scale.

You might check on ebay for a germ guardian that hasn't been used. That's where I got my last one. It was brand new in the box. I wouldn't buy a used one, though. I'll check around and see if I can find one anywhere.
 

Jana

New member
It looks like they are unavailable everywhere, as you said. Maybe the company will come out with a newer model. I saw two on ebay (one is GermDoctor, which is the same thing with a different name--older model, I guess). However, they are both used. Personally, I wouldn't go that route. Perhaps Craigslist in your area?

It really is more of a convenience, though. The sterilizing you're already doing is the important thing.
 

carly23

New member
Sometimes il even wash them with soapy water..then rinse them then let them soak in alcohol gor 20mins and ten boil water on the stove for 5mins and then rinse them off with that boiling water once its cooles and then i let them air dry thats still ok to right? I need more neb cups because this is a pain everyday lol
 

2005CFmom

Super Moderator
I don't know if I would rinse them off with the cooled water. Although technically there probably isn't anything wrong with doing it that way, it just extends the drying time of the neb. If you remove the nebs with tongs while everything is still hot, they will dry much faster.
 

carly23

New member
These are the cheap disposable ones so they melt very easily..the water they get rinsed off with had already been boiled and my respiratory lady said once its been boiled it is safe to use even when cooled down cause you already killed any bacteria..the drying is done by the time im ready for next neb <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 

fly30

New member
I agree with Terry, pull them out with tongs as soon as you've switched the stove off. They dry much much quicker. I personally wouldn't be letting the water cool, and then pull them out.

Also we were only boiling for 5 mins until we spoke to our clinic docs. They said to kill all germs you have to boil for a minimum of 10....... I now have myself a timer and set it to 10 once boiling starts. Hope this helps <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 

2005CFmom

Super Moderator
I didn't realize you were using the disposable type. What meds do you use? The disposable might be ok for albuterol & hypersal, but if you are doing pulmozyme or antibiotics you really need to get some better nebs.

The disposable ones don't break the medication down small enough to get into your small airways so you do not get the full benefit of doing your treatment. And I'm not even sure how many times you would be able to wash the disposable ones and still have them be effective for your albuterol/hypersal.

The standard nebs for most inhaled medication are the pari or the sidestream. I'm surprised your RT does not have you using these kind of nebs.
 

carly23

New member
So now im confused..if im not taking the water straight from boiling to pour over my nebs after they have been sitting in alcohol for 20mins are you saying i still have germa on them?..and the ines i have are pari, and the disposable ones and the ones with a blue lid and a harder plastic..iv never hear of sidestream?..im nervous im going to get sick now
 

carly23

New member
My nebs are never damp they dry prety quick if your saying thats the only reason not to use the water after its cool..i dont wait for it to be cold i just use it when its warm/hot ao it doesnt melt my disposable cups
 

2005CFmom

Super Moderator
No, I don't think you will get sick by the way you are cleaning your nebs. Maybe boil the water for 10 minutes first like fly30 says to be on the safe side.

Are these the nebs you are using?
http://www.alliedmedicalequipment.com/nebulizer-accessory/pari-lcr-d-disposable-nebulizer

If so, are you replacing them every 15 days/uses as suggested or at least every month? I was concerned that you are reusing the disposable ones and they are not durable enough to withstand multiple uses without breaking down.

Don't be nervous, I'm sure everything is fine.
 
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