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Cleaning + disinfecting nebulizer and aerobica

MAC & Bronchiectasis | Last Active: Jun 5 9:02pm | Replies (154)

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@sueinmn

I think you can breathe a sigh of relief - sometimes we get too far "down in the weeds" with trying to do everything exactly right when what we really need is a safe routine that works for each person in their life.

There are two things we are trying to do with cleaning and disinfecting - one is to disrupt the formation of biofilm where NTM like to hide and breed. The other is to kill the NTM that is present. Your sterilizer is killing any NTM.

Dr Falkinham and his colleagues did a study on how much NTM adheres to our devices a few years ago, and the answer is very few. Here is the slide, which is all I have been able to locate from the study:
https://evidence.monaghanmed.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/MD-295A-0423-mycobacterium_poster-EN-final.pdf
What it says is that, even after being submerged in a solution rich with NTM for 24 hours, very few colonies grew from a culture taken from the Aerobika or the nebulizer. (These devices were not cleaned before they were swabbed.) So even if your technique isn't perfect, you have very little to worry about.

PS According to my pulmonologist, getting people to clean and disinfect their equipment EVER, let alone every day, is one of her biggest hurdles

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Replies to "I think you can breathe a sigh of relief - sometimes we get too far "down..."

Hi Sue, the link you posted for the slide (NTM adhering to devices) was corrupt. Only the graphics show - not the main text. Could you please send me the pdf (or jpg) of the slide DM?

Thank!
Deb in Utah

Hard to believe "getting people to clean and disinfect their equipment EVER, let alone every day, is on of her biggest hurdles."
However, as a retired person my time is so different from someone who is still working, but, it doesn't take that long to clean or disinfect.
I was glad to hear what Falkinham had to say when I came across his information. If for no other reason just to know and be informed.
Barbara

This research won a prize at the NYC World Bronchiectasis Conference two years ago.