question about nebs

[anonymous]

This is Amber...

Rebecca, yes, I use 4 nebs a day. I use a new mask, neb cup, and spacer for the inhaler at every treatment. I have enough of them for a little more than one day, so every day I boil them all. I wasn't sure if this was necessary.

Neither of the 2 cf centers my son has gone to have ever told me to boil nebs, or to use a new neb cup/mask with each treatment. But we never had to do nebs consistently until a few months ago. The new clinic did ask how I cleaned his nebs though, and said I did good.

When we were at the hospital last month, the RT's used a new disposable neb cup for his albuterol at every treatment. They used a Pari LC plus for his pulmozyme once a day, but just rinsed it with water from the sink between uses. Then it would sit on a paper towel on the counter uncovered until the next day's treatment. Ewww. Every few days they'd give it to me to take home and open up a new one. I brought them home and boiled them. I will admit I did take it off the counter a few times and stick it in my bag so they'd have to use a new one. No one ever noticed because we constantly had different RT's.

 

[anonymous]

This is Amber...

Rebecca, yes, I use 4 nebs a day. I use a new mask, neb cup, and spacer for the inhaler at every treatment. I have enough of them for a little more than one day, so every day I boil them all. I wasn't sure if this was necessary.

Neither of the 2 cf centers my son has gone to have ever told me to boil nebs, or to use a new neb cup/mask with each treatment. But we never had to do nebs consistently until a few months ago. The new clinic did ask how I cleaned his nebs though, and said I did good.

When we were at the hospital last month, the RT's used a new disposable neb cup for his albuterol at every treatment. They used a Pari LC plus for his pulmozyme once a day, but just rinsed it with water from the sink between uses. Then it would sit on a paper towel on the counter uncovered until the next day's treatment. Ewww. Every few days they'd give it to me to take home and open up a new one. I brought them home and boiled them. I will admit I did take it off the counter a few times and stick it in my bag so they'd have to use a new one. No one ever noticed because we constantly had different RT's.

 

[NoExcuses]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>anonymous</b></i>

I brought them home and boiled them. I will admit I did take it off the counter a few times and stick it in my bag so they'd have to use a new one. No one ever noticed because we constantly had different RT's.</end quote></div>

hahahahaha i do the same thing!!!!!

 

[NoExcuses]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>anonymous</b></i>

I brought them home and boiled them. I will admit I did take it off the counter a few times and stick it in my bag so they'd have to use a new one. No one ever noticed because we constantly had different RT's.</end quote></div>

hahahahaha i do the same thing!!!!!

 

[NoExcuses]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>anonymous</b></i>

I brought them home and boiled them. I will admit I did take it off the counter a few times and stick it in my bag so they'd have to use a new one. No one ever noticed because we constantly had different RT's.</end quote></div>

hahahahaha i do the same thing!!!!!

 

[fourkidsmom]

It is funny that this was posted because we were having a conversation about this last night. My 5 yr old is in the hospital right now and when he does his 4 treatments a day they just shake out the excess medicine and lay it on a paper towel. I questioned this and they said they aren't allowed to rinse with the tap water now, so they use the same mask/neb for the 4 treamtents and then throw it away the next morning. Doesn't make sense to me when we are constantly reminded how to clean those nebs/masks at the doctors office. Also I always thought you needed a pari mask for the pulmozyme, well they use a regular disposable in the hospital. I know what you are talking about with the hospital having different standards........

Fourkidsmom

 

[fourkidsmom]

It is funny that this was posted because we were having a conversation about this last night. My 5 yr old is in the hospital right now and when he does his 4 treatments a day they just shake out the excess medicine and lay it on a paper towel. I questioned this and they said they aren't allowed to rinse with the tap water now, so they use the same mask/neb for the 4 treamtents and then throw it away the next morning. Doesn't make sense to me when we are constantly reminded how to clean those nebs/masks at the doctors office. Also I always thought you needed a pari mask for the pulmozyme, well they use a regular disposable in the hospital. I know what you are talking about with the hospital having different standards........

Fourkidsmom

 

[fourkidsmom]

It is funny that this was posted because we were having a conversation about this last night. My 5 yr old is in the hospital right now and when he does his 4 treatments a day they just shake out the excess medicine and lay it on a paper towel. I questioned this and they said they aren't allowed to rinse with the tap water now, so they use the same mask/neb for the 4 treamtents and then throw it away the next morning. Doesn't make sense to me when we are constantly reminded how to clean those nebs/masks at the doctors office. Also I always thought you needed a pari mask for the pulmozyme, well they use a regular disposable in the hospital. I know what you are talking about with the hospital having different standards........

Fourkidsmom

 

[Ratatosk]

When DS was first diagnosed he was in the NICU for 6 weeks, so the head RT for the CF program showed us how to use a nebulizer. Indicated at that time nebs should be boiled for 5 minutes each time after washing them in hot soapy water or gave us instructions on using rubbing alcohol. Told us vinegar was no longer acceptable. Think the instruction sheet we were given from the hospital said not to rinse with tap water, but didn't explain why. And until quite recently, I never knew why not. I was just rinsing in hot water between treatments and boiling them once a day.

We didn't know any better at the time, but the RTs on the floor had a "community" bottle of albuterol that they used from bed to bed to bed. Eeek! And they would hang the neb cups on the wall next to the oxygen and change them out every couple of days. No rinsing.

We now boil nebs for 10 minutes a day as per the Pari instructions.

 

[Ratatosk]

When DS was first diagnosed he was in the NICU for 6 weeks, so the head RT for the CF program showed us how to use a nebulizer. Indicated at that time nebs should be boiled for 5 minutes each time after washing them in hot soapy water or gave us instructions on using rubbing alcohol. Told us vinegar was no longer acceptable. Think the instruction sheet we were given from the hospital said not to rinse with tap water, but didn't explain why. And until quite recently, I never knew why not. I was just rinsing in hot water between treatments and boiling them once a day.

We didn't know any better at the time, but the RTs on the floor had a "community" bottle of albuterol that they used from bed to bed to bed. Eeek! And they would hang the neb cups on the wall next to the oxygen and change them out every couple of days. No rinsing.

We now boil nebs for 10 minutes a day as per the Pari instructions.

 

[Ratatosk]

When DS was first diagnosed he was in the NICU for 6 weeks, so the head RT for the CF program showed us how to use a nebulizer. Indicated at that time nebs should be boiled for 5 minutes each time after washing them in hot soapy water or gave us instructions on using rubbing alcohol. Told us vinegar was no longer acceptable. Think the instruction sheet we were given from the hospital said not to rinse with tap water, but didn't explain why. And until quite recently, I never knew why not. I was just rinsing in hot water between treatments and boiling them once a day.

We didn't know any better at the time, but the RTs on the floor had a "community" bottle of albuterol that they used from bed to bed to bed. Eeek! And they would hang the neb cups on the wall next to the oxygen and change them out every couple of days. No rinsing.

We now boil nebs for 10 minutes a day as per the Pari instructions.

 

[anonymous]

Fourkidsmom,

My point to the nursing staff/nursing supervisor was we sterilize this stuff at home. kids develop immunity to household germs. The hospital is a whole different story. There are so many bad germs/bacteria there it is MORE important to be very careful with neb stuff and CF'ers. With maggie they threw each neb away after one use. If a Cf'er is sick enough to be in the hospital getting nebs, then each neb should be one time use and sterile. Like I said I made a big stink, so the staff did this. I'm sure it has to do with cost(although those disposable nebs are less expensive). Anyway, I guess i should be using a sterile neb each time at home too.

Rebecca(mom to sammy 8 no CF and maggie 3 1/2 with CF)

 

[anonymous]

Fourkidsmom,

My point to the nursing staff/nursing supervisor was we sterilize this stuff at home. kids develop immunity to household germs. The hospital is a whole different story. There are so many bad germs/bacteria there it is MORE important to be very careful with neb stuff and CF'ers. With maggie they threw each neb away after one use. If a Cf'er is sick enough to be in the hospital getting nebs, then each neb should be one time use and sterile. Like I said I made a big stink, so the staff did this. I'm sure it has to do with cost(although those disposable nebs are less expensive). Anyway, I guess i should be using a sterile neb each time at home too.

Rebecca(mom to sammy 8 no CF and maggie 3 1/2 with CF)

 

[anonymous]

Fourkidsmom,

My point to the nursing staff/nursing supervisor was we sterilize this stuff at home. kids develop immunity to household germs. The hospital is a whole different story. There are so many bad germs/bacteria there it is MORE important to be very careful with neb stuff and CF'ers. With maggie they threw each neb away after one use. If a Cf'er is sick enough to be in the hospital getting nebs, then each neb should be one time use and sterile. Like I said I made a big stink, so the staff did this. I'm sure it has to do with cost(although those disposable nebs are less expensive). Anyway, I guess i should be using a sterile neb each time at home too.

Rebecca(mom to sammy 8 no CF and maggie 3 1/2 with CF)

 

[fourkidsmom]

Rebecca,

I agree with you, I think they should throw them out after each use at the hospital. I think I may just make a stink about this myself. I know if we don't stick up for our kids no one else will.

Fourkidsmom

 

[fourkidsmom]

Rebecca,

I agree with you, I think they should throw them out after each use at the hospital. I think I may just make a stink about this myself. I know if we don't stick up for our kids no one else will.

Fourkidsmom

 

[fourkidsmom]

Rebecca,

I agree with you, I think they should throw them out after each use at the hospital. I think I may just make a stink about this myself. I know if we don't stick up for our kids no one else will.

Fourkidsmom

 

[proverbs3]

We, too, are very confused about this whole neb cleaning. My daughter was diagnosed last November and I feel like I have a baby again cleaning out all those bottles.

We have 4 different cups, albuterol, saline, pulmonzyme, and colistine. After every therapy, I rinse them with almost hot water in a big bowl and swish them around like a washing machine, lay them out on a couple of paper towels and put them back with her therapy stuff. My husband is better and will dry them off with a paper towel before he puts them back. After about 3 - 6 months (depending on the brand), we'll change them out. I boiled in the beginning, but got out of the habit.

Some one of this website gave a great idea of marking them with nail polish and I've done that. It comes off sometimes, but at least I'm not confused about which piece goes with which neb. Faith likes the Pari cup so much better than the pipe one.

I tried to get more of the Pari cups off e-bay. They were being auctioned off for about $2-4.

Now, Faith did contract a bacteria in the hospital this summer. She contracted it after being in there for a week. Did she have it already or did it come from there? I suppose we'll never know!

Carol
Mom to Faith 11 year old w/ CF

 

[proverbs3]

We, too, are very confused about this whole neb cleaning. My daughter was diagnosed last November and I feel like I have a baby again cleaning out all those bottles.

We have 4 different cups, albuterol, saline, pulmonzyme, and colistine. After every therapy, I rinse them with almost hot water in a big bowl and swish them around like a washing machine, lay them out on a couple of paper towels and put them back with her therapy stuff. My husband is better and will dry them off with a paper towel before he puts them back. After about 3 - 6 months (depending on the brand), we'll change them out. I boiled in the beginning, but got out of the habit.

Some one of this website gave a great idea of marking them with nail polish and I've done that. It comes off sometimes, but at least I'm not confused about which piece goes with which neb. Faith likes the Pari cup so much better than the pipe one.

I tried to get more of the Pari cups off e-bay. They were being auctioned off for about $2-4.

Now, Faith did contract a bacteria in the hospital this summer. She contracted it after being in there for a week. Did she have it already or did it come from there? I suppose we'll never know!

Carol
Mom to Faith 11 year old w/ CF

 

[proverbs3]

We, too, are very confused about this whole neb cleaning. My daughter was diagnosed last November and I feel like I have a baby again cleaning out all those bottles.

We have 4 different cups, albuterol, saline, pulmonzyme, and colistine. After every therapy, I rinse them with almost hot water in a big bowl and swish them around like a washing machine, lay them out on a couple of paper towels and put them back with her therapy stuff. My husband is better and will dry them off with a paper towel before he puts them back. After about 3 - 6 months (depending on the brand), we'll change them out. I boiled in the beginning, but got out of the habit.

Some one of this website gave a great idea of marking them with nail polish and I've done that. It comes off sometimes, but at least I'm not confused about which piece goes with which neb. Faith likes the Pari cup so much better than the pipe one.

I tried to get more of the Pari cups off e-bay. They were being auctioned off for about $2-4.

Now, Faith did contract a bacteria in the hospital this summer. She contracted it after being in there for a week. Did she have it already or did it come from there? I suppose we'll never know!

Carol
Mom to Faith 11 year old w/ CF