How Should I Clean My Nebulizer and Acapella Device

Posted by picartist @picartist, Jul 4 7:03pm

I have only been diagnosed a few months and have been cleaning my nebulizer and Acapella after each use by soaking in soapy water, rinsing with tap water and rinsing again with purified water. Once a week I soak them all in hydrogen peroxide and rinse again. I then let them air dry. So far I have not had an infection but wondering if I am doing it wrong.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

Welcome. I'm sorry you need to be here, but think you'll find invaluable information and wonderful, supportive people here.
This is a common concern and frequent question/discussion.. You'll find people figure out their system and it varies with the space they have, amount of secretions they bring up and the science of what kills MAC. Here's a link to earlier discussions.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cleaning-disinfecting-nebulizer-and-aerobica/
Heat and time are the fastest way with 10" boiling being a tested method to kill Mac. If you boil, use a food grade silicone mat in bottom f pan to keep neb from warping.
I use a Bololo baby sterilizer-simpler and storage cleaner.

REPLY

My son grew up with asthma, so I had some experience with using the nebulizer. Now that I have MAC Lung I'm removing taking care of him. We always wash in Hot soapy water, then soak once a week in vinegar and water solution. 1 cup vinegar to 3 cups water. I hope this helps you.

REPLY

Thanks pretty much what I do but use Hydrogen Peroxide instead. I had both options. Thanks.

REPLY
Profile picture for pacathy @pacathy

Welcome. I'm sorry you need to be here, but think you'll find invaluable information and wonderful, supportive people here.
This is a common concern and frequent question/discussion.. You'll find people figure out their system and it varies with the space they have, amount of secretions they bring up and the science of what kills MAC. Here's a link to earlier discussions.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/cleaning-disinfecting-nebulizer-and-aerobica/
Heat and time are the fastest way with 10" boiling being a tested method to kill Mac. If you boil, use a food grade silicone mat in bottom f pan to keep neb from warping.
I use a Bololo baby sterilizer-simpler and storage cleaner.

Jump to this post

I don't know much about MAC other than it's an infection of some kind. I don't have that or at least I don't think I do. I just use 3% saline and the Acapella twice a day.

REPLY
Profile picture for lilbit59 @lilbit59

My son grew up with asthma, so I had some experience with using the nebulizer. Now that I have MAC Lung I'm removing taking care of him. We always wash in Hot soapy water, then soak once a week in vinegar and water solution. 1 cup vinegar to 3 cups water. I hope this helps you.

Jump to this post

Vinegar and water is not sufficient to sterilize from MAC.

REPLY
Profile picture for bayarea58 @bayarea58

Vinegar and water is not sufficient to sterilize from MAC.

Jump to this post

What should I use?

REPLY
Profile picture for lilbit59 @lilbit59

My son grew up with asthma, so I had some experience with using the nebulizer. Now that I have MAC Lung I'm removing taking care of him. We always wash in Hot soapy water, then soak once a week in vinegar and water solution. 1 cup vinegar to 3 cups water. I hope this helps you.

Jump to this post

When you dilte household vinegar 1:3, the amount of ascetic acid is only 1.0% to 1.67%. 6% acidity for 30 minutes is required to kill MAC/NTM. Some strains even require 10%. I am on my phone now, so don't have access to link you to the research doc.

REPLY
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

When you dilte household vinegar 1:3, the amount of ascetic acid is only 1.0% to 1.67%. 6% acidity for 30 minutes is required to kill MAC/NTM. Some strains even require 10%. I am on my phone now, so don't have access to link you to the research doc.

Jump to this post

Thank you for the info. I'll see what I can find on the net.

REPLY
Profile picture for picartist @picartist

I don't know much about MAC other than it's an infection of some kind. I don't have that or at least I don't think I do. I just use 3% saline and the Acapella twice a day.

Jump to this post

I'm sorry if I confused you and am glad you don't have MAC. It's great that your doc already has you on some airway clearance methods to prevent infections. MAC is one of harder infections to treat, the organism is common and resistant to most typical cleaning methods. If we use methods that kill it, most other organisms are eradicated as well.
I'm on a quick trip and have limited time, but would encourage you to look thru link.
Was your bronchiectasis an incidental finding or were you sick before diagnosis? Do you have a cough and is it productive? Cultures negative?

REPLY
Profile picture for pacathy @pacathy

I'm sorry if I confused you and am glad you don't have MAC. It's great that your doc already has you on some airway clearance methods to prevent infections. MAC is one of harder infections to treat, the organism is common and resistant to most typical cleaning methods. If we use methods that kill it, most other organisms are eradicated as well.
I'm on a quick trip and have limited time, but would encourage you to look thru link.
Was your bronchiectasis an incidental finding or were you sick before diagnosis? Do you have a cough and is it productive? Cultures negative?

Jump to this post

I had a cough ENTs treated for five years, no one suggested it was coming from my lungs. Eventually got to a pulmonary specialist and after Cat Scan was diagnosed. When I first started treating my doctor told me he was glad I did not have an infection, referring to one that takes a year or anti-biotics to clear out. I guess that was Mac he was talking about. Right now my system keeps my lungs cleared and big problem I had at first was trying too hard. I had a long chat with AI and realized I was pushing so hard I gave myself a dry cough. I stopped pushing so hard doing Huffs, etc. and it settled down.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.