lightNlife
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I found this in one of my bookmarked articles about CF and I found it reassuring. I'm sure I'm not the only one who gets a little nutso about making sure the nebulizer is spic and span all the time.
According to this, it looks like we don't have to labor over the process so much. I don't know about some of you, but I wouldn't mind spending fewer minutes on the whole process. It's time I'd rather spend eating!
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><b>Cleansing of Nebulizers</b>
Home-use nebulizers are frequently contaminated with Pseudomonas bacteria, nevertheless they are rarely a source of infection for patients (LiPuma JJ, et al. 1990, Hutchinson GR, et al. 1996). Hence, differing opinions on necessity and methods of Cleansing and Disinfecting (C&D) exist. But, as a matter of fact (Cross AS, et al. 1981), introduction of precise guidelines for C&D of ventilators for clinical use has drastically reduced nosocomial pneumonia (= 'pneumonia acquired in the hospital'). So, guidelines are urgently needed to regulate the servicing, maintenance, cleansing, and disinfecting of home-use nebulizers, highlighting questions concerning replacement of intensively used devices, and redefining guidelines on 'medication mixing' (Rosenfeld M, et al. 1998).
In the following there will be given a straightforward and easy-to-follow method for cleansing home-nebulizers, designated especially for use at households, avoiding the use of specific disinfectants.
Our recommendation is daily cleansing of the nebulizer-chassis containing the compressor and daily cleansing of the nebulizer lower part with integrated press-button. All components of the nebulizer-system, such as spray-jet, nebulizer upper part with valve, Y-piece, and filter-casing should be cleansed and disinfected always after use. The drug-filter is a disposable-tool and should be discarded after use; air-filters should be changed every six months, at least once a year. Also, every six months, but at least once a year the tube should be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected. Moreover, all parts must be cleansed after visible contamination, and the tube eventually also after visible formation of condensation.
For cleansing, the nebulizer system must be dismantled to all the single compounds which are thereafter flushed under pouring, hot water, cleaned with a dry and clean flannel, and put for dehumidifying to a dry and protected place - far from wet-zones - for up to four hours. Drying can be accelerated by additional air from the compressor, from a hair-dryer or within a conventional oven (on a low heat and/or with the door open, so as not to melt the parts).
The latter is most suitable, as turbulence of germs in the air is avoided. A microwave oven must never be used in the cleansing or drying process! Of course, the best location of home-use utensils is in a dry place, preferably protected by a dry, clean cloth.
Following general recommendations of personal hygiene and hand-washing before and after C&D procedures should go without saying and they should be assessed and re-studied again, once in a while. </end quote></div>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cfww.org/pub/newsletter/nl01a/nl01ae.htm">Link to Original Content</a>
According to this, it looks like we don't have to labor over the process so much. I don't know about some of you, but I wouldn't mind spending fewer minutes on the whole process. It's time I'd rather spend eating!
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><b>Cleansing of Nebulizers</b>
Home-use nebulizers are frequently contaminated with Pseudomonas bacteria, nevertheless they are rarely a source of infection for patients (LiPuma JJ, et al. 1990, Hutchinson GR, et al. 1996). Hence, differing opinions on necessity and methods of Cleansing and Disinfecting (C&D) exist. But, as a matter of fact (Cross AS, et al. 1981), introduction of precise guidelines for C&D of ventilators for clinical use has drastically reduced nosocomial pneumonia (= 'pneumonia acquired in the hospital'). So, guidelines are urgently needed to regulate the servicing, maintenance, cleansing, and disinfecting of home-use nebulizers, highlighting questions concerning replacement of intensively used devices, and redefining guidelines on 'medication mixing' (Rosenfeld M, et al. 1998).
In the following there will be given a straightforward and easy-to-follow method for cleansing home-nebulizers, designated especially for use at households, avoiding the use of specific disinfectants.
Our recommendation is daily cleansing of the nebulizer-chassis containing the compressor and daily cleansing of the nebulizer lower part with integrated press-button. All components of the nebulizer-system, such as spray-jet, nebulizer upper part with valve, Y-piece, and filter-casing should be cleansed and disinfected always after use. The drug-filter is a disposable-tool and should be discarded after use; air-filters should be changed every six months, at least once a year. Also, every six months, but at least once a year the tube should be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected. Moreover, all parts must be cleansed after visible contamination, and the tube eventually also after visible formation of condensation.
For cleansing, the nebulizer system must be dismantled to all the single compounds which are thereafter flushed under pouring, hot water, cleaned with a dry and clean flannel, and put for dehumidifying to a dry and protected place - far from wet-zones - for up to four hours. Drying can be accelerated by additional air from the compressor, from a hair-dryer or within a conventional oven (on a low heat and/or with the door open, so as not to melt the parts).
The latter is most suitable, as turbulence of germs in the air is avoided. A microwave oven must never be used in the cleansing or drying process! Of course, the best location of home-use utensils is in a dry place, preferably protected by a dry, clean cloth.
Following general recommendations of personal hygiene and hand-washing before and after C&D procedures should go without saying and they should be assessed and re-studied again, once in a while. </end quote></div>
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cfww.org/pub/newsletter/nl01a/nl01ae.htm">Link to Original Content</a>