Cleaning + disinfecting nebulizer and aerobica

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

I use the lifestraw pitcher but had to toss the water bottle. With the water bottle, you have to suck up the water through a filter. Way too intensive for me… Not to mention… worsening lip wrinkles:)

I don’t breath in through my Aerobika, just out. I wash it in a bit of Dawn, soak for 15 minutes once a day. And put in boiling water once a week for 5 minutes.
I am curious, if you would want to share, do you have any symptoms with your Bronchectasis? I have it but don’t cough. I do have reflux symptoms I’m trying to stop with medication . I just use my Aerobika, mostly once a day but I should do it twice a day.

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

I don't breath in through my nebulizer. I just wash the mouthpiece everyday.
The Aerobika about once a week or less.
Hot soapy water then soak in peroxide and rinse.
I posted a question on here about Aerobika.
How to know when not working. I have mixed up my parts when cleaning.
I need to keep separated keep mixing the first one with the one I received about 6 months later.

"I don't breath in through my nebulizer." You must mean your Aerobika, right?

I could tell Aerobikas weren't working when the valves would collapse and there's no resistance. It's easy to tell-different sound and feel. I'd think the filters could become plugged making it harder, too.
I've put a couple devices in a ziplock and labeled "old" when they still seemed ok, but it was time to change.

Yes.
I meant aerobika.
I have to learn how to relax when doing my nebulizer.
I find I'm almost hyperventilating sometimes.
Same with aerobika.
I can tell I'm getting tense because I start lifting my shoulders and holding tension in them.
Is the valve that little flap on end? How does it collapse?

I sip while I neb to keep mouth from getting too dry and I think that helps me relax thru little breaks.
The little green filter/valve in the backside of aerobika opens and lets air whoosh out at once is what I mean. You can easily tell if it happens-suddenly there's no resistance.

I sip while I neb to keep mouth from getting too dry and I think that helps me relax thru little breaks.
The little green filter/valve in the backside of aerobika opens and lets air whoosh out at once is what I mean. You can easily tell if it happens-suddenly there's no resistance.