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Anyone use Control III with Pari eRapid nebulizer? Does it kill NTM?
Several month ago I purchased a Pari ERapid nebulizer. I noticed in the "How to Clean and Maintain Your eRapid" section of the manual there are only two forms of cleaning recommended 1) disinfect with boiling distilled water for five minutes or 2) disinfect with Control III solution ("mix 1/2 tablespoon of Control III solution to 1 quart of water in a clean bowl. Immerse the parts in that bowl and soak for 10 minutes. Remove parts from solution and rinse thoroughly with sterile water")
I have not been using either of these methods, but have been using a baby bottle sterilizer after rinsing and soaking the nebulizer parts for a short time (the time it take me to do prone air way clearance after nebulizing). I then rinse the parts and sterilizer with the bb sterilizer.
I will be going on a trip soon and do not have room to pack the baby bottle sterilizer nor will I have distilled water and a pot to boil it in for 10 minutes. (going on a cruise).
My question: Has anyone used Control III to sterilize their nebulizer attachments? Is there any research that Control III kills NTM? Have any of your drs. recommended using it? I know it is recommended for CPAP purposes but I'm not sure that killing NTM is a concern with other lung conditions. If it does actually kill NTM, Control III seems like a good option to use while on vacation.
Also, does anyone know why Pari eRapid no longer recommends baby bottle sterilizers as an option for cleaning anymore? (It sounds like from the threads I've been reading on here that they used to recommend a bb sterilizer?) Do they consider it too harsh on the equipment parts?
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@avalr What is Control III?f
This is where the PARI E rapid gets complicated. Because of the mesh component, it requires distilled water for sterilization.
Regarding Control III, from my reading, there is no evidence that it kills NTM. It’s meant for more ordinary disinfection. For sterilization for the erapid you’re stuck with boiling or baby bottle sterilizer.
Some creative person on the NTM info.org website actually packed distilled water for a trip. They described specialized containers, which now I don’t remember the details about. Distilled water might not be as scarce as you are thinking. Would it be possible to say more about where you are going and how you are traveling? It might help with brainstorming.
I suspect PARI does not endorse baby bottle sterilizers overtly due to concerns over liability. I’ve used a baby bottle sterilizer with distilled water on my PARI E rapid for over three years. So far so good.
@sueinmn I'd never heard of Control III until I read the cleaning section of the Pari eRapid either. It's a "hospital grade disinfectant" Here's a link to a PDF I just found a little while ago: https://bio-medical.com/media/support/control_iii_disinfectant_faq.pdf It looks like there is a "Control III Elite" which will kill tuberculosis - but as we know, NTM isn't the same thing as tuberculosis.
@scoop We are headed on a cruise with Holland America next month. From what I've found online, they do have distilled water available for medical equipment for purchase. The cleaning instructions on the Pari eRapid though call for boiling in a pot for 5 minutes in distilled water which I don't think would be possible as the cruise line (and I think most cruise lines) don't allow tea kettles/cooking equipment in the rooms. I could take the baby bottle sterilizer, but it takes up a lot of space (even without the tall part for bottles) we are planning on flying backpack/carry on only. Not sure if Holland America would allow the sterilizer either. I know the airlines won't count the medical equipment as baggage, but it's a matter of not wanting to haul the bb sterilizer around before the cruise when we will be sightseeing in the city we fly into for a few days. We'll be gone a total of 12 days. I may just "chance" it and only use soapy distilled water to clean the equipment while we are gone, getting back into the cleaning and sterilization routine when we return home. I figure it's better to nebulize and take a chance than not nebulize. If I don't nebulize and do airway clearance - I cough at night. I could just do prone airway clearance with breathing techniques, but it's not nearly as effective as nebulizing beforehand.
Any brainstorming ideas are appreciated!
I was supplied the Pari with my Arikayce prescription and was instructed to boil for 5 minutes to disinfect. About a year ago, I purchased a baby bottle sterilizer and started using that instead and I've had no problem.
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How about asking for a kettle along with distilled water? They are in the hospitality business after all. If you decide to risk it and not sterilize, bring along compressed sterile saline, usually used for nasal rinses. You can at least rinse the nebulizer in sterile water. It might give you some modicum of comfort. If you decide to pursue Control III I guess it’s better than nothing but not sure you can carry that on. Have a great trip.
Ps - please let us know what you end up doing as you are not alone with this conundrum!
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1 Reaction@scoop it never hurts to ask! I will ask for both a kettle and distilled water (and explain why they are needed). I think the hotels/rentals we are staying at before and after the trip have kettles. Europeans love their tea (and so do I)! So that shouldn't be a problem before and after sailing. If the cruise line says they can't provide a kettle and distilled water, I think I will buy some Control III in an 8oz bottle, and carry only the amount I will need for the week - leaving the remainder at home in another sterile bottle. It'll be smaller than bringing the baby bottle sterilizer. We are flying United and don't think there will be any problem carrying liquids over the limit for medical purposes. The Pari eRapid instructions call for only 1/2 tablespoon of Control III per quart of water after each nebulizing. I've searched over the last day for Control III Elite - thinking that if it kills tuberculosis, it's probably a better choice than the Control III, but I've had no luck finding a supplier. The standard Control III is available on Amazon. I'll keep everyone posted on what the cruise line says and what I end up doing.