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Reducing Exposure to Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM)

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: 6 hours ago | Replies (160)
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@vgvball

I understand DW can get contaminated a bit by air getting in since its not sterile
And of course if seal is broken we wouldn't buy it. I actually use DW to boil my equip for 10 minutes in a kettle but doubt I have to run away from that steam because I dont think it has much in it.
And I boil DW to use in sinuses just to be sure we arent putting microbes up into sinuses.

AI Overview (checks several sources) says:
"NTM Lung Disease | Living a Normal Life | Aquamedix
Distilled water is unlikely to contain nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) because it's free of organic and inorganic materials. However, NTM has been found in other water sources, including tap water.
Explanation
Distilled water is a type of water purification that boils water , the distilled removes more than 99.9% of dissolved minerals from water. This process makes distilled water free of organic and inorganic materials.

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Replies to "I understand DW can get contaminated a bit by air getting in since its not sterile..."
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | 6 hours ago

I agree that most distilled water I probably low risk, if bottled under sterile conditions. I use .2 micron filtered water because a filter that fine traps any mycobacteria.

I personally think there is a difference between steam from boiling water, which is highly unlikely to be contaminated, and "steam" from a shower, which is droplets water that is not hot enough to kill NTM. But I don't have any science to prove it.

I just think we get "way in the weeds" sometimes trying to avoid EVERY exposure. I try to concentrate on reducing big risks (eg indoor pools and hot tubs) and ignoring the small ones (getting my hair washed at the salon or opening the dishwasher that has run at 180⁰ for an hour.) I have been MAC free for 5 years and counting after almost 2 years of antibiotics.

Everyone is different and I respect that. My risk tolerance is probably higher than average in this group.

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