Nebulizer Washing on the Road

[Ratatosk]

At home I boil neb cups after washing them in hot soapy water once a day. And I've been rinsing them in really hot tap water in between treatments, which I've now learned is a no-no. As is distilled water....

So what does one do while on the road. In the past if we are in a hotel, I've used very very hot water to rinse, hot sudsy water to wash, have soaked them in rubbing alcohol, but still end up having to rinse that off.

So should I start bringing an electric kettle along on trips to boil nebs? Do they make a baby bottle sterilizer that just plugs in to the wall???

Liza

 

[EnergyGal]

If you can buy disposable nebs and use them for a day then throw it out. after each use dry it all whatever is left behind.

 

[folione]

We use the Avent microwave sterilizer. Even the rare room without a microwave usually has access to one somewhere in the hotel.

The avent thing is not much more than a plastic dish with a lid that goes into the microwave on high for 5 minutes. We've used this from day-1 for bottles, neb cups, toothbrushes, etc. If you go the microwave route, test it first - Pari neb cups are OK but some others melt.

We also take along our own dish soap and brushes then use the ice bucket for dish duty.

 

[Ratatosk]

I usually bring along the disposable dish cloths that have dish soap in them. I also bring along sani wipes to wipe down the bathroom counters, desks, remote... Up until recently I didn't think that tap water was that big of an issue, now it makes me edgy. I'll just have to look into a sterilizer.

 

[thelizardqueen]

I think its Amy who does this - but she bought a deep fryer - plugged that in and it heats the water enough to disinfect your nebs.

 

[anonymous]

Oh geez -- a deep fryer -- DH already complains I overpack -- everything except the kitchen sink. I'm CONSTANTLY reminded that "there are stores where we're going" when I overpack snacks, food and milk. But sometimes I don't feel like hunting down a grocery store or target when we first get some place. And mexico where we were in a private development and had to call for cabs to get into town -- I was soooo glad I stocked up on fruit snacks, juice boxes, peanut butter, crackers and spagettios.

 

[NoExcuses]

I use a deep fryer. Boils the heck out of the nebs. And you know you can stay healthy on vacatoin. I take mine no matter where I go (3000 miles away or 500 miles away), I bring my trusty deep fryer.

 

[anonymous]

I prefer not to clean on vacation. I bring tons of nebs with me. Call me crazy but I have 15-20 pari lc plus nebs. I use them for 2 years and then through them out. They are each labels with whether they are for Pulmozyme or not and with the date of first use. I figure since one is supposed to last 6 mo. if used by itself 15-20 used each only periodically should last 1.5-2 years. Not sure if Pari would agree with this. I figure they'd say something like 'well we've never tested that use pattern.'

Old habits die hard. My mom (whom I'll admit wasn't always the thriftiest with my care) had tons of nebs on hand so there was always a clean one on hand. I think she only had 6 for me but now I use 3-5 nebs each day and since they can't be wet (not even a drop) I prefer to have 3x as many so that I can wash 2x a week and be assured clean dry nebs.

I get one every 6 mo. for free from insurance and then get one at clinic every 3 mo.

I'm one of those people that would rather do laundry for a few hours than a load each night. I guess I'm the same way with my nebs. To each their own.

 

[LouLou]

that was me.

 

[Emily65Roses]

Who said hot water is a no-no? I always always always use hot tap water and dish soap. So when I go "on the road" I take two tall cup/bowls and some dish soap, and I'm good to go.

 

[2005CFmom]

The CFF website has a publication titled Stopping the Spread of Germs



It states that nebs should be washed & sterilized.....you can boil nebs to sterizile or soak in other solutions. If you use the soak method it states it needs to be rinsed in sterile water...not tap, bottled or distilled water. It suggests making water sterile by boiling it for atleast 5 minutes.

EDIT...I suck at posting links...lol
trying again

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cff.org/living_with_cf/patient_and_family_education/">LINK</a>

The article is listed under CF and Infection Control

 

[thelizardqueen]

Here is the link:

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cff.org/UploadedFiles/living_with_cf/Files/Respiratory%20--%20Stopping%20the%20Spread%20of%20Germs.pdf">http://www.cff.org/UploadedFil...pread%20of%20Germs.pdf</a>

 

[2005CFmom]

Thanks Liz!

 

[thelizardqueen]

For anyone who can't read PDFs, here's a post from me in a similar thread:

"I 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):

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.cff.org/UploadedFil...read%20of%20Germs.pdf
">http://www.cff.org/UploadedFil...read%20of%20Germs.pdf
</a>
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.

DO NOT USE VINEGAR. Vinegar is not strong enough to kill bacteria.

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.

I don't wash my nebs daily, as I have 3 neb cups that I alternate. When I'm down to my last one, that's when I wash all the other ones."

 

[ladybug]

I do the same as Liz... I have 7-8 neb cups and wait until they're all dirty and I have to clean them. Then, I dishwash and boil or clean them in hot soapy water with a bottle brush and boil.

What I do on the road... and, beleive me, we're on the road A LOT being military!:

I always take a big bowl and some of the wipes with dishsoap in them. I wash my nebs in this once they're all dirty and I'm down to the last ones (if its a short trip, I just keep them dirty and use new and boil them all when I get home.)

If the place I'm at doesn't have a stove to boil after EVERY washing, I went with Amy's suggestion and got myself a deep fryer. GREAT idea!!! I know its bulky, but it works soooo well and gives me peace of mind that I'm doing what I can to protect myself. The big thing is that you should not reuse water that you've boiled in it once its cooled off, so you have to dump and re-fill if you need to boil again in the future. So, when I know I'll have to boil them all more than once, I bring extra dishsoap wipes to clean thoroughly beforehand. It works so well. I know its bulky and a pain to pack the extra stuff, but this really is a germ-prevention measure we shouldn't do without, IMO. Plus, I even go the extra mile and BUY bottled water to BOIL in the fryer. Call me a germaphobe, but I don't want to use the tap from hotels for anything. JMO though.

Thanks again for the AWESOME idea, Amy!!!

 

[NoExcuses]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Emily65Roses</b></i>

Who said hot water is a no-no? I always always always use hot tap water and dish soap. So when I go "on the road" I take two tall cup/bowls and some dish soap, and I'm good to go.</end quote></div>

hot water doesn't kill PA. Boiling water for 5 minutes will.....

 

[Landy]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>Emily65Roses</b></i>

Who said hot water is a no-no? I always always always use hot tap water and dish soap. So when I go "on the road" I take two tall cup/bowls and some dish soap, and I'm good to go.</end quote></div>


I'm with you here, Emily. Back when I was told how to wash nebs, it was in hot, soapy water & to rinse them off in as hot of water as I could stand & let them air dry on paper towels. It takes all of 2 minutes to do.
My how times have changed!

 

[anonymous]

We are going away as a family. For sterilizing the nebs i plan on boiling as usual at the in-laws. However, for 2 nights we'll stay at a hotel without access to a stove. I plan on soaking in rubbing alchohol for 5 min. then rinsing with sterile water. I called a few pharmacys to get the sterile water. I was told for one bottle(1.5 liters) it was $15.00. Seems kind of expensive to me. So my husband(who is a scientist) has access to an autoclave, is going to autoclave a couple bottle for me and I'm going to make my own sterile water.

Rebecca(mom to Sammy 8 no CF and MAggie 3 1/2 with CF)

 

[NoExcuses]

autoclaving will clean nebs very well <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">