1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis

Best Shower heads for MAC

Posted by kathyhg @kathyhg, Mar 18, 2019

I've been reading about shower heads and it seems that many are bad for growing bacteria. One mentioned on another forum was called The Original Chrome Shower Head by Shower Clear. It is very expensive and wondering if anyone has experience with this or others that might be good.
Thanks,

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kathyhg | @kathyhg | Jul 20, 2019
In reply to @pfists "@phoenixrises The "Shower Clear" metal shower head flips open and dries out completely then flips shut..." + (show)
@pfists

@phoenixrises
The "Shower Clear"
metal shower head flips open and dries out completely then flips shut when dry so no mold or bacteria can build in it. I'm happy with mine. It does produce more of a rain shower than regular aresoled type mist shower.
Anyway Hopefully this helps reduce Mac.
Shari

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I am happy with mine as well. Metal or plastic, the shower head opens up and dries out between uses.

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alleycatkate | @alleycatkate | Jul 20, 2019
In reply to @phoenixrises "There is conflicting information that can be confusing regarding showerheads and NTM. Some members are talking..." + (show)
@phoenixrises

There is conflicting information that can be confusing regarding showerheads and NTM. Some members are talking about using Shower Clear's "all-metal" showerheads as being safer than plastic showerheads for minimizing inhaling NTM in the shower; however a more recent study I read (Sept. 2018 - see article info at end) indicates that mycobateria in plastic showerheads were on average "two times lower than in showerheads that were constructed of either metal or a mix of metal and plastic components." (You can find the research study if you Google: Ecological Analyses of Mycobacteria in Showerhead Biofilms and Their Relevance to Human Health, by Matthew J. Gebert, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Angela M. Oliverio, Tara M. Webster, Lauren M. Nichols, Jennifer R. Honda, Edward D. Chan, Jennifer Adjemian, Robert R. Dunn, Noah Fierer
Mary Ann Moran, Editor, DOI: 10.1128/mBio.01614-18

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Hi all, I bought little white plastic shower heads at Lowes for under $3.00 a head. I usually take baths but when I take a shower I use that then unscrew it from the pipe and shake it out to dry and leave it off till my next shower. I toss it out after a few months and screw on a new one. When you unscrew it, you will notice how the water backs up after you shut off the water and sits in the pipe and shower head. Just an economical option.
Kate

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2 replies
kathyhg | @kathyhg | Jul 21, 2019
In reply to @alleycatkate "Hi all, I bought little white plastic shower heads at Lowes for under $3.00 a head...." + (show)
@alleycatkate

Hi all, I bought little white plastic shower heads at Lowes for under $3.00 a head. I usually take baths but when I take a shower I use that then unscrew it from the pipe and shake it out to dry and leave it off till my next shower. I toss it out after a few months and screw on a new one. When you unscrew it, you will notice how the water backs up after you shut off the water and sits in the pipe and shower head. Just an economical option.
Kate

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Im sorry that I didn’t find anything like that when I was looking!

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Mentor
Terri Martin, Volunteer Mentor | @windwalker | Jul 22, 2019
In reply to @alleycatkate "Hi all, I bought little white plastic shower heads at Lowes for under $3.00 a head...." + (show)
@alleycatkate

Hi all, I bought little white plastic shower heads at Lowes for under $3.00 a head. I usually take baths but when I take a shower I use that then unscrew it from the pipe and shake it out to dry and leave it off till my next shower. I toss it out after a few months and screw on a new one. When you unscrew it, you will notice how the water backs up after you shut off the water and sits in the pipe and shower head. Just an economical option.
Kate

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Hi Kate! That is a good idea. Thank you.

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stevesunshine20 | @stevesunshine20 | Sep 29, 2019

Hello. I am Steve Sunshine, the Inventor of Shower Clear. Regarding the comments on this thread, I am aware of all the issues regarding Shower Heads and what they can and cannot prevent. Noah Fierer who did the NTM Study on Shower Heads used 7 Shower Clear samples in the accumulation study to show that with easy access and without having to cut open a Shower Head, the NTM bacteria would grow in a Dark & Wet environment as well as accumulate. The biggest difference and benefit of my design is the fact that it can be opened after every use and sanitize at will. With a traditional design, regardless of substance used such as bleach(Toxic), there is no guarantee of cleaning any Mycobacterium and for any period of time. What you cannot see, you cannot control. When you are told to remove your traditional Shower Head once a month and rinse with bleach, that in itself is a task most will not adhere to. Also, what happens after 3 weeks or 6? You won't know. Shower Heads do not come with an expiration date or a gauge to indicate toxicity. Also, regarding Filters. Firstly, Mycobacteria are really small (about 1 micron in diameter) so pretty much any filter that would exclude mycobacteria would have very limited flow rates. And if there was a filter to use in conjunction with Shower Clear, wonderful. But, it goes back to the how often to change theory and not knowing if it is filled and over infected yielding harmful results. Since there is no perfect answer, from a mechanical as well as a logical point of view, I look at large projects all the time. In fact, many are overwhelming in the beginning and their completion appears far in the distance. But, what I have found that my insight into a One step at a time approach gets the job done.

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stevesunshine20 | @stevesunshine20 | Sep 29, 2019
In reply to @sueinmn "I think there is no definitive answer on this issue. A study by NIH shows NTM..." + (show)
@sueinmn

I think there is no definitive answer on this issue. A study by NIH shows NTM can form a biofilm in PVC pipes which is not dissipated by drying out. Another study of biofilm suggests it cannot be "rinsed away" by flushing pipes. There is research that suggests that copper pipe doesn't have the same problem. If NTM (MAC/MAI) is present in water it may aerosolize. Some suggest this as a possible vector of infection. But, if the NTM forms a biofilm in your pipes, no kind of shower head or cleaning of the head will eliminate it. To suggest otherwise is not supported by research. I would be cautious about succumbing to a sales pitch, thinking it was somehow keeping me safe. I minimize time in the shower and we set the water heater to 140F to inhibit growth.

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The recently published study on NTM and Shower Heads completed University of Colorado using over 650 Shower Heads would be of read to help understand the role of the Shower Head.

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stevesunshine20 | @stevesunshine20 | Sep 29, 2019
In reply to @windwalker "@sueinmn Spot on, Sue! I do the same thing as you. I do soak my shower-head..." + (show)
@windwalker

@sueinmn Spot on, Sue! I do the same thing as you. I do soak my shower-head in a baggie of vinegar as an added pre-caution since that is where there are the heaviest with colonization.

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Soaking a Shower Head will do very little since you cannot see inside and confirm clean and know when it becomes toxic again. If you cannot see inside, there is no guarantee. In 1981, the Annals of Internal Medicine published a study where a Hospital did just that with the Legionella Bacteria in a Hospital Shower Head. Only they used Ethylene Oxide(Poison). The Legionella re-populated in the Shower Head.

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1 reply
stevesunshine20 | @stevesunshine20 | Sep 29, 2019
In reply to @pfists "@windwalker888 That article on MAC colonizing predominately in bathrooms and mostly showerheads is very interesting. I..." + (show)
@pfists

@windwalker888
That article on MAC colonizing predominately in bathrooms and mostly showerheads is very interesting. I will soak mine in vinigar much more often
I use a "hand" shower head and use it on a rainfall setting rather than a Spray setting hoping this spray method helps.
Thanks Teri

Shari

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Soaking does not work. You cannot see inside or know when it becomes toxic again. The University of Colorado Study with over 650 Shower Heads confirmed that. Also, Hand Held Shower systems are the worst offenders since the water remains in the tube when you hang it on the wall giving the bacteria a petri dish environment in which to grow.

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stevesunshine20 | @stevesunshine20 | Sep 29, 2019
In reply to @megan123 "Hi Suenim.....It is recommended by National Jewish Hosputal to use the Micron 0.2 filter attached to..." + (show)
@megan123

Hi Suenim.....It is recommended by National Jewish Hosputal to use the Micron 0.2 filter attached to your shower head...this prevents MAC from getting thru...Dr Falkingham, guru in MAC recommends...I just also ready a recent study done, saying that patients r likely getting reinfected in the bathroom...ie high level of MAC found in showerhead, bathroom tap, sinks bathtub water etc....I agree with slit of what you are saying as well....I tend to follow National and Mayo recommendations to extend my life as long as I can without getting crazy about things

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You might want to read the University of Colorado Study done on NTM and Shower Heads. They used over 650 Shower Heads and was the most peered reviewed study on this issue to date.

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1 reply
stevesunshine20 | @stevesunshine20 | Sep 29, 2019
In reply to @phoenixrises "There is conflicting information that can be confusing regarding showerheads and NTM. Some members are talking..." + (show)
@phoenixrises

There is conflicting information that can be confusing regarding showerheads and NTM. Some members are talking about using Shower Clear's "all-metal" showerheads as being safer than plastic showerheads for minimizing inhaling NTM in the shower; however a more recent study I read (Sept. 2018 - see article info at end) indicates that mycobateria in plastic showerheads were on average "two times lower than in showerheads that were constructed of either metal or a mix of metal and plastic components." (You can find the research study if you Google: Ecological Analyses of Mycobacteria in Showerhead Biofilms and Their Relevance to Human Health, by Matthew J. Gebert, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Angela M. Oliverio, Tara M. Webster, Lauren M. Nichols, Jennifer R. Honda, Edward D. Chan, Jennifer Adjemian, Robert R. Dunn, Noah Fierer
Mary Ann Moran, Editor, DOI: 10.1128/mBio.01614-18

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The study refers to standard enclosed shower heads that do not open and dry. Also, different types of plastics will yield different results of porosity. The inside of Shower Clear is not bare metal but, fully PVD plated.

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