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Problems sterilizing pulmonary hygiene equipment

Posted by jeanarizona @jeanarizona, Feb 17 1:43pm

Hi all! I am a MAC/Bronchiectasis patient who recently started doing daily pulmonary hygiene. I use a Ventolin inhaler, nebulize sodium chloride, and use an Aerobika to clear mucous from my lungs. I am having trouble finding a sterilizing technique that does not melt some of my equipment. I tried boiling and two of the nebulizer cups melted. Today, I tried microwaving in steam bags with two ounces of water for three minutes and the inhaler spacer and another nebulizer cup melted out of shape. I am wondering if these more delicate things are not supposed to be sterilized using these methods. What other methods should I use for the thinner plastic pieces? Is anyone else dealing with this?

Jean

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egayle187 | @egayle187 | Feb 19 7:55am

@jeanarizona...It may seem odd that I wash my equipment in dish soap and water and have done so for 10 years without a recurrence of MAC or an exacerbation. My home environment is not as clean as most, since I live on a farm with an organic garden and have two cats. I do sterilize my C-PAP every day. I have never found it necessary to sterilize my nebulizer. The nebulizer fluids, mucinex, and postural drainage every day without fail have kept me free of infection for 10 years. If your equipment is plastic, I would suggest washing it daily or putting it in a so-clean type ozone sterilizer which will not melt it. Sterilizing may be necessary if you are a healthcare professional or live with little children who constantly expose you to germs.

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1 reply
harrynsc | @harrynsc | Feb 19 9:42am

Jean,
I use the steam bags, but microwave for two minutes.
Harry

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1 reply
jml6812 | @jml6812 | Feb 19 9:54am
In reply to @becleartoday "There are disposable Aeroeclipse cups that are intended for one week use. Pretty much for a..." + (show)
@becleartoday

There are disposable Aeroeclipse cups that are intended for one week use. Pretty much for a hospital setting. However, the Aeroeclipse XL have a green tint and can be put in a baby bottle steam sterilizer or boiled. The manufacturer doesn’t recommend using their cup with other compressors that are less powerful as they require extra power and can burn that compressor out. Also, I find nebulizing can take a longer time if you’re using a less powerful compressor. The company recommends trying to stay within the same system it was manufactured for. In the case of the Aeroeclipse, it is the Ombra. For the Pari Trek S it is the Sprint cup. The Sprint cup can withstand high heat similar to the Aeroeclipse.

Best,
Linda Esposito

Jump to this post

I appreciate your advice and that of the entire group. I just switched from the Pari to the Ombra with the Aeroeclipse nebulizer cup. It's so much simpler when attached to the Aerobika! One question, though. When I read through the info/directions on the Aeroeclipse it said it could be put into the dishwasher, but not to have it in there during the drying cycle. What is your experience with that?

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1 reply
becleartoday | @becleartoday | Feb 19 10:43am
In reply to @jml6812 "I appreciate your advice and that of the entire group. I just switched from the Pari..." + (show)
@jml6812

I appreciate your advice and that of the entire group. I just switched from the Pari to the Ombra with the Aeroeclipse nebulizer cup. It's so much simpler when attached to the Aerobika! One question, though. When I read through the info/directions on the Aeroeclipse it said it could be put into the dishwasher, but not to have it in there during the drying cycle. What is your experience with that?

Jump to this post

I don’t use the dishwasher but I do use a baby bottle sterilizer for the green Aeroeclipse XL cup. That is the one that can withstand high heat. I have boiled it as well.

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1 reply
jml6812 | @jml6812 | Feb 19 10:59am
In reply to @becleartoday "I don’t use the dishwasher but I do use a baby bottle sterilizer for the green..." + (show)
@becleartoday

I don’t use the dishwasher but I do use a baby bottle sterilizer for the green Aeroeclipse XL cup. That is the one that can withstand high heat. I have boiled it as well.

Jump to this post

I'm sorry I wasn't clear -- I was talking about the Aeroeclipse XL
I don't think it's the heat as it can be boiled for 15 minutes or microwaved. I just wondered if somehow the dry cycle shortens the life of the cup or something like that. On the instructions re: baby bottle sterilizer it also says to air dry.

Just wondering if others have had experience with the dry/sanitize cycle on the dishwasher.

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happy2023 | @happy2023 | Feb 23 10:25am

Here is a very helpful number from the Monaghan manufacturer that makes AeroEclipse nebulizer, the Monaghan chamber (spacer), Aerobika, and Ombra compressor. They can answer questions for you, especially about cleaning equipment. Press the Option for Customer Service. Tel: 800-833-9653

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1 reply
jeanarizona | @jeanarizona | Feb 23 12:44pm
In reply to @harrynsc "Jean, I use the steam bags, but microwave for two minutes. Harry" + (show)
@harrynsc

Jean,
I use the steam bags, but microwave for two minutes.
Harry

Jump to this post

Thanks Harry. How often do you sterilize your equipment?

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1 reply
jeanarizona | @jeanarizona | Feb 23 12:47pm
In reply to @happy2023 "Here is a very helpful number from the Monaghan manufacturer that makes AeroEclipse nebulizer, the Monaghan..." + (show)
@happy2023

Here is a very helpful number from the Monaghan manufacturer that makes AeroEclipse nebulizer, the Monaghan chamber (spacer), Aerobika, and Ombra compressor. They can answer questions for you, especially about cleaning equipment. Press the Option for Customer Service. Tel: 800-833-9653

Jump to this post

Thank you so much, happy123. I have out of state guests and will call the company when they leave.

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1 reply
harrynsc | @harrynsc | Feb 23 12:51pm
In reply to @jeanarizona "Thanks Harry. How often do you sterilize your equipment?" + (show)
@jeanarizona

Thanks Harry. How often do you sterilize your equipment?

Jump to this post

Every night,
H

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jeanarizona | @jeanarizona | Feb 23 12:55pm
In reply to @egayle187 "@jeanarizona...It may seem odd that I wash my equipment in dish soap and water and have..." + (show)
@egayle187

@jeanarizona...It may seem odd that I wash my equipment in dish soap and water and have done so for 10 years without a recurrence of MAC or an exacerbation. My home environment is not as clean as most, since I live on a farm with an organic garden and have two cats. I do sterilize my C-PAP every day. I have never found it necessary to sterilize my nebulizer. The nebulizer fluids, mucinex, and postural drainage every day without fail have kept me free of infection for 10 years. If your equipment is plastic, I would suggest washing it daily or putting it in a so-clean type ozone sterilizer which will not melt it. Sterilizing may be necessary if you are a healthcare professional or live with little children who constantly expose you to germs.

Jump to this post

Thank you, egayle187. That gives me some peace of mind as I only washed the nebulizing equipment in hot water and dish soap during the first month or so of using it. I have trouble keeping a schedule for sterilizing so I recently started washing and then using the microwave bags after each use. It sounds like I am sterilizing more than I need to.

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