cleaning nebs

I clean my sons nebulizer every night if he uses it that day and the pharmacist said the best thing to clean it with was vinagar check with your insurance company there maybe a form that you can get from your insurance company and you take that to the doctor ask them to fill it out and for them to write in the kind  you need and give the form back to your insurance company. I did for my son. or to buy you can try Nunns Hospital supplies.

This post is worth a bump up!

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Kathy, mom to identical twin boys with CF (9yrs), daughter 20, grandaughter 2 1/2, one on the way!

 
If there is a CURE for Cystic Fibrosis this very moment and this is "not soon enough"...you would hear this twins mom "Across America" "YESSSSSSSSSS"!!.

Moderator, Cystic Fibrosis.  "If there is questionable doubt, check it out"....with your healthcare provider!.  We are here to offer support, encouragement, and answer your questions as best we can.  Don't hesitate to step on in and enjoy!.

Kat cleans her nebulizer every 2-3 days with some sort of really heavy duty hospital-issue cleaner.

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~Jack
best friend of Kat, 16 w/ CF

I use micro-steam bags, which are actually made for sterilizing breast pump parts. They work great & were actually suggested by my CF center. You can buy these online or at places like Target.

shae said...
I clean my sons nebulizer every night if he uses it that day and the pharmacist said the best thing to clean it with was vinagar

According to the CFF guidelines, vinegar is not strong enough to kill all of the bacteria that collects on your nebds. Your neb cups should also be cleaned after every once. PA will stay on a wet surface for up to 8 days. Thats a scary thought to be only cleaning your neds once a week (I think someone mentioned that on here), or even every couple of days. Because think about it, you're breathing that bacteria in your lungs, and could be making things worse. I clean my nebs after every use with hot soapy water, and then I boil them for 5-10 minutes, then let air dry. Make sure that you let your water boil for a few minutes before putting your nebs in there to boil, so that your water is purified. I also got this link from the CCF website about how to/not to clean your nebs, and to stop the spread of infection (this is in PFD form):

http://www.cff.org/UploadedFiles/living_with_cf/Files/Respiratory%20--%20Stopping%20the%20Spread%20of%20Germs.pdf

Here are ways to clean your neb cups:

Clean with hot soapy water using a paper towel, then rinse with water. Then follow with one of the following ways to clean your neb cups:

1. Boil for 5 minutes;

2. Microwave in water for 5 minutes;

3. Dishwasher if the water is hotter then 158 F for 30 minutes;

4. Soaking in a solution of 1 part household bleach, and 50 parts water for 3 minutes;

5. Soaking in 70% Isopropyl alcohol for 5 minutes or;

6. Soaking in 3% Hydrogen Peroxide for 30 minutes

If you decide to disinfect with the peroxide or alcohol, make sure that you rinse your nebs afterwards with STERILE water. DO NOT USE WATER FROM THE TAP, DISTILLED WATER, OR BOTTLED WATER. To make sterile water, simply let water boil for 5 minutes before putting your neb cups in.

When airdrying your neb cups, make sure that you leave them on a clean dry surface, as bacteria can grow and stay on wet surfaces. Pseudo stays on wet surfaces for 8 days! Let your nebs dry on paper towel, and once your nebs are halfway dry, replace the wet paper towel with dry ones.

DO NOT USE VINEGAR. Vinegar is not strong enough to kill bacteria. I know a lot of people used to clean their nebs that way before, but bacteria policies with the CFF have changed. Make sure to read the cleaning instructions on your nebs, as some nebs cannot be cleaned certain ways, such as the disposable kinds.

The resusable nebs such as PARI LC Plus can be reused for up to 6 months and then need to be replaced. They can be handwashed, or washed in a dishwasher. Cleaning should take place after everyuse to prevent buildup. Plus, not cleaning your nebs after every use causes build up which hampers the effectiveness of your treatments, or increase the risk of infection. Disposable neb cups like Acorn II need to be replaced after every use.

Tubing does not need to be washed, as air is continually pushed through during treatment, so after every treatment, simply let the compressor run for a few minutes to get any trapped moisture out.

Hope this has helped!

You should still be boiling your nebs or putting them in the dishwasher or microwave, or some other means of cleaning them as well that I mentioned above. There is a wealth of bacteria in tap water. You should always be cleaning with sterile water (water that has been boiled for 5 minutes).