Cleaning + disinfecting nebulizer and aerobica

You are like me! So confused. We've used compressor-style nebulizers for over 30 years. Replaced neb cup/mouthpiece/tubing every 3 months when using daily, otherwise a little longer. Never was told any different by Pulmo, ENT, primary, Respiratory Therapists, hospital...and never got an infection from nebulizing.

Always washed in hot cup and mouthpiece in soapy water daily (If ill, also sterilized weekly) & dried tubing by running the compressor if needed. When I got MAC, pulmo nurse asked how I cleaned neb & said good - do your Acapela the same. Now I read replace tubing every 2 weeks, 2 months...NJH says 2 weeks, one nebulizer site says "with the mouthpiece" and another says every 6 months. No one has shown me any research based data about the frequency of replacement.

How did I solve this? Switched to a mist/impeller style neb, without tubing. Handheld is easier for me anyway.

Question for anyone here who has time to search: Can you find any research-based evidence that one can be infected with any pathogen from nebulizer tubing, or that nebulizer tubing from a properly cleaned and maintained nebulizer has been proven to harbor MAC, NTM, pseudomonas or pneumococcus?

Sue

Boy, this information about cleaning is just all over the place. I was told at NJH that the Aerobika and nebulizer should be washed in hot soapy water for 5 minutes after every use, and then steamed in the microwave once a week. I was also told the tubing does not need to be cleaned (just run the compressor for a minute or so to clear out any slight condensation) and then replace the tubing every two months. Is there an expert out there that might give us all a definitive answer? If there's a better mousetrap, I'm all for it. I have had NTM for 11 years and have cleared 3 different strains with no meds - just airway clearance. I still have Kansasii, bronchiectasis, pseudomonas, and two small cavities so I'm not home free by a long shot.

Hi Sue,
Newly diagnosed with MAC and shopping for a nebulizer. Your comment "switched to a mist/impeller style", You have been at this a long time so would you recommend just buying one of the hand helds and not messing with the compressor types? Do you see any difference in their outputs?
Thanks for your input. Have read thru miles of these posts since the diagnosis and am getting quite an education. What a great forum.
Frank

@turnbacktheclock & @detsdum - I am always "on the go" traveling chasing after grandkids, going to meetings... so I opted for the handheld (impeller type) nebulizer. My current one is the Philips Innospire Go. I'm not sure if it is currently available - it was on backorder for most of the summer. Of the handheld ones, it was my daughter's favorite, so I chose it as well, and it works well for me.

Which is better, compressor or impeller style? That depends - for sheer reliability & long life, you can't beat the old (and still sold) Pari Vios. But it is loud, and not convenient for hauling around because it is larger & plug-in only. And it's cheap & covered by Medicare Part B & most insurance. The impeller ones are lighter, quieter, battery operated or rechargeable, and tend to be more expensive. On average they only last a year or two.

As for output, the impellers are faster, which is important to an impatient person like me. I wish they would have been around for my kids. They also seem to make smaller droplets. But both will put out all the medicine and do the job.

So, if I was a homebody and had a convenient place to set up a Pari & use it without having to move it, I would probably be satisfied with it. As it is, I keep my "old green machine around as a backup. Also, if you are in a household where more than one person nebs, each person has to have their own handheld. But with the compressor machine, you just switch hose/cup/mouthpiece between users.

I'm sure others will weigh in here with their experiences.
Sue

@turnbacktheclock & @detsdum - I am always "on the go" traveling chasing after grandkids, going to meetings... so I opted for the handheld (impeller type) nebulizer. My current one is the Philips Innospire Go. I'm not sure if it is currently available - it was on backorder for most of the summer. Of the handheld ones, it was my daughter's favorite, so I chose it as well, and it works well for me.

Which is better, compressor or impeller style? That depends - for sheer reliability & long life, you can't beat the old (and still sold) Pari Vios. But it is loud, and not convenient for hauling around because it is larger & plug-in only. And it's cheap & covered by Medicare Part B & most insurance. The impeller ones are lighter, quieter, battery operated or rechargeable, and tend to be more expensive. On average they only last a year or two.

As for output, the impellers are faster, which is important to an impatient person like me. I wish they would have been around for my kids. They also seem to make smaller droplets. But both will put out all the medicine and do the job.

So, if I was a homebody and had a convenient place to set up a Pari & use it without having to move it, I would probably be satisfied with it. As it is, I keep my "old green machine around as a backup. Also, if you are in a household where more than one person nebs, each person has to have their own handheld. But with the compressor machine, you just switch hose/cup/mouthpiece between users.

I'm sure others will weigh in here with their experiences.
Sue

Hi Sue, How do you clean the mouthpiece and cup of the impeller nebulizer? I purchased one on Amazon and the instructions said to clean the cup after each use with equal parts of vinegar & water & turn on the cleaning button on the front of the nebulizer. I wash the mouthpiece is soapy water . After that I soak it in alcohol for about 5 minutes.....same for the cup. What do you do? Thank you

@turnbacktheclock & @detsdum - I am always "on the go" traveling chasing after grandkids, going to meetings... so I opted for the handheld (impeller type) nebulizer. My current one is the Philips Innospire Go. I'm not sure if it is currently available - it was on backorder for most of the summer. Of the handheld ones, it was my daughter's favorite, so I chose it as well, and it works well for me.

Which is better, compressor or impeller style? That depends - for sheer reliability & long life, you can't beat the old (and still sold) Pari Vios. But it is loud, and not convenient for hauling around because it is larger & plug-in only. And it's cheap & covered by Medicare Part B & most insurance. The impeller ones are lighter, quieter, battery operated or rechargeable, and tend to be more expensive. On average they only last a year or two.

As for output, the impellers are faster, which is important to an impatient person like me. I wish they would have been around for my kids. They also seem to make smaller droplets. But both will put out all the medicine and do the job.

So, if I was a homebody and had a convenient place to set up a Pari & use it without having to move it, I would probably be satisfied with it. As it is, I keep my "old green machine around as a backup. Also, if you are in a household where more than one person nebs, each person has to have their own handheld. But with the compressor machine, you just switch hose/cup/mouthpiece between users.

I'm sure others will weigh in here with their experiences.
Sue

I’m looking for a small hand held nebulizer for travelling (I have the big, noisy but effective Pari Green one at home).
What do you mean by an impeller nebulizer and (if it’s okay here) can you give examples of brands of those so I can do more reading on them?
Thanks,

An impeller nebulizer uses a screen and small vibratory motor to dispense the neb solution directly into a mouthpiece. The mesh screen breaks up the liquid into tiny droplets which you inhale.

The only one I have use is the Philips Innospire Go, which is rechargeable and comes apart for cleaning. (https://www.usa.philips.com/c-e/hs/respiratory-care/innospire-go.html) This is not an endorsement, but the site does give an idea how these work. It has been in short supply, so I don't know if it is available now. Others may be able to recommend different brands.

Sue

Per the manufacturer's directions, I wash it after use in hot soapy water, rinse & air dry on a clean towel. Once a week, I boil it in a saucepan with a silicone mat on the bottom to protect it from direct heat. So far, it works for me.
Sue