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Re: mask caused Staph Infection

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 12:43 pm
by binky11
Hey Binky,
I have not gotten your email, I don't think. Please PM me here and I will be happy to help you in any way I can.
I answer every email personally, (try again, it may have happened to go somewhere out there in cyberland).

Karen
I cannot PM you as I have to be logged in and it keeps saying my username is incorrect, but it appears to be binky11 no? LOL Always has been for years. Deleted cookies, not sure what the problem is. I will have to go back to your website and try again from there, but last time I did that you did not seem to receive it? Anyway if you have been keeping up with this thread, you know my problems and there is probably not much more I could tell you.
I'm in a bit of a rush now (helping the legion bag up about 2 million poppies) lol I will go through your site later today.

Re: mask caused Staph Infection

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 5:43 pm
by binky11
binky11
Hey Binky,
I have not gotten your email, I don't think. Please PM me here and I will be happy to help you in any way I can.
I answer every email personally, (try again, it may have happened to go somewhere out there in cyberland).

Karen
Hi Karen,
I just emailed you from your "contact us" link again from your website. Hopefully you receive it this time.

Re: mask caused Staph Infection

Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2010 5:58 pm
by pears5
Hi all, thanks for all the valuable information, The infection has all cleared up and now back on CPAP. I am using the Fitlife Total face mask which doesn't touch my nose at all. I am having problems with leakage at the forehead they say you don't have to have it tight fitted, it comes in small and large only so I'm using the small one and will keep working on the leaks. As for interfering with my eyes, I have had no problems.

Re: mask caused Staph Infection

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 8:13 pm
by Muse-Inc
I've read here (somewhere) that the ear plug material that is squishable will shape into a long roll that can be stuck on the edges of the mask to make a tight seal.

Re: mask caused Staph Infection

Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:17 pm
by kennasgrammy
binky11 wrote:binky
Hey guys, thanks so much for all the suggestions. I am quite interested in trying the FitLife Total Face CPAP Mask . I have one question for any of you that use this type. I notice it goes over your eyes as well. I can't imagine that pressure blowing over my eyes (even though they are closed), does it not bother your eyes at all? I have dry eyes (menopausing, have dry everything lol) But the mask itself seems like it would solve about 3 other problems that I am currently having. Can anybosy using this mask maybe comment on the eye issue? I am calling my service place tomorrow to see about getting in for an appointment. Unless my medical will pay for the nose protectors, I sure can't afford those every month. I did send an email into pad-a-cheek but have not heard back from them? Any info would be greatly appreciated, thanks
I have been using the Fit Life Mask for about a week and absolutely love the mask - now the headgear is a different story and I'll mention that in a minute. I have very dry eyes, like you, and have absolutely NO trouble regarding eyes with this mask. Don't know how it does it but no air blowing in the eyes at all. Mask is also very nice and clear so reading and watching tv through the mask is great and I find it extremely comfortable over the Quattro I was using prior. Now... the headgear! It pulls like he_ _ on the back of my neck. Have asked my dme to find a different headgear but they are refusing saying I have to use the headgear that comes with it. Since I know you pay for headgears separately, I don't "buy" it. I am on a 2 week trial with this mask and am telling them tomorrow that I want the mask and they need to find me a headgear I can use without pain in my neck. If they refuse, I will tell them I will go to a different provider and maybe then they will be willing to help with my pain in the neck!

Re: mask caused Staph Infection

Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 8:00 am
by pbach
When I was a new user to Cpap I had also gotten a nasty wound on my face from the mask pressing on my cheek. I didn't go to the doctor, but should have for the time it took to heal.
In the past I have had a staph infection from picking at my face. My face and neck swelled to huge proportions. I have learned my lesson.
Thank goodness for the nasal pillow.

Re: mask caused Staph Infection

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 1:50 am
by bahhumbug
I have used pillows several years. I recently developed staph inside both nostrils. My dr. prescribed Bactroban cream (very expensive) and daily cleaning.
After a week, no improvement.

It looks like the masks cause infections outside the nostrils.

How do I solve this dilemma?

Re: mask caused Staph Infection

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:14 pm
by avi123
pears5 wrote:Hi all, I am new to CPAP so I need all the help I can get. I have had my CPAP Machine for two weeks now and am having quite a few problems, but my major concern is the bridge of my nose has become very infected and is now an open wound. This has happened from using my mask which I clean every morning with alcohol wipes. I had swabs taken by my doctor last week and is turns out to be golden staph. I am now on antibiotics to cure the infection. I work in a hospital so because of the infection I am unable to go to work till it clears. I am now using a full face mask but I cant get a good seal no matter what I try. Has anyone else had these problems ? Your advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
Reply,

I got Staph infection 5 years ago from a hip replacement surgery. The cause happened to be the hospital itself and apparently my low immune resistance. At that time the Staph infection rate at this hospital averaged above 1% for joint surgeries. But since then lots of improvement have taken place. Foremoust, the placing of antiseptic dispensers by the doors of all patients rooms. The Doctors themselves were the culprit.

After I was diagnosed with Staph I was treated with Vancomycin by IV for three weeks, twice, 6 months apart. First time, in a nursing home dispensing the Vancomycin there, and the next time, in a clinic at an Infection Diseases Group of doctors. Medicare paid both places.

I take Dicloxacillin 250 mg capsule twice daily, prophylactically. The Staph was settled around the metal of my hip implant.
So either the implant should be replaced or I take the Rx.

p.s. IMO, if you got Staph into the skin lesion on your nose from a mask then you probably carried the Staph on your fingers from your Hospital and rubbed it into your mask or nose at home. Sue the hospital!

p.s. b/c the infection cleared so fast I doubt it that it was Staph (what is Golden Staph?)

Re: mask caused Staph Infection

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:45 pm
by purple
Alcohol causes silicone to become more stiff, and thereby have less of a good seal. Or so I was advised by my the RT at my first sleep clinic. To which I would ask, how long had you used the mask, and thereby implying how many times have you cleaned the mask.

It is also possible that part of having problems with mask seal is because head straps lose their elasticity, which means you will cinch down on them tighter to stop the leaks. I keep coming back that Medicare, and many insurances, now allow book keepers to make decisions as to how often things need to be replaced, and they say the head straps last six months.

LIke others, because of MRSA on my face I had to give up the Fischer and Paykill Forma mask which I had successfully used for years. I took up a FitLIfe Total Face, which I wear oddly with the bottom below my chin, like a chin cup. The FitLife, which some call the mask of the last resort, is useful for those who have developed different sizes on each side of the face.

Back to you main issue. I have had a number of MRSA infections. and I have been given conflicting advice about how to keep MRSA from recurring.

Re: mask caused Staph Infection

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 6:23 pm
by squid13
I got staph from back surgery and just like AVI 123 they treated it by putting a IV pic in my arm that's a tube that runs through a vein into the heart. They treated it with 200mg of Vancomycin . I had to go everyday for 7 weeks before it was cleared up that included holidays and Saturdays and Sundays. Staph is all around you so it's not to hard to get it if things aren't clean.

Re: mask caused Staph Infection

Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:05 pm
by chunkyfrog
Antibacterial gel is everywhere.
There is some discussion that overuse detracts from our immunity; but this is an individual choice.
Having verified low immunity may be reason to just go nuts with it.

Re: mask caused Staph Infection

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 12:48 am
by archangle
A clean mask can help, but even if your mask was sterile, it can grind bacteria in the environment into your skin, so consider face cleaning, hand washing, linen cleaning, etc. If the mask irritates your skin, that could also make it easier for bacterial to get in.

A lot of people use Lanisnoh HPA Lanolin on their nostrils to prevent irritation, but I don't know if the lanolin would be a more or less hospitable environment for germs. Some people claim lanolin is antibacterial, but I haven't found a really authoritative reference.

I wonder if there is some sort of topical antibacterial cream that could help out? Put it on before you put the mask on. BTW, I'm NOT recommending an antibiotic cream, I'm thinking of something of a more general antibacterial nature.

I believe the concern about antibacterial gel is about the "high tech" chemical stuff, not so much about the alcohol based antibacterial gel, although there is some concern about that stuff, too.

For strong disinfection of your mask, consider something like the control III solution or disinfectant wipes our host, cpap.com and other CPAP sites sell. There are also links to the manufacturer's disinfection processes in my signature line.

Also, keep in mind that not all staph infections are antibiotic resistant MRSA, flesh eating bacteria, or even Staphlococcus aureus. One person's problem may be an entirely different bug from someone else's.

Re: mask caused Staph Infection

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 12:52 am
by archangle
avi123 wrote:what is Golden Staph?[/color]
Staphlococcus aureus (SA) is golden staph. ("aureus" is gold.)

MRSA is a form of SA, but not all SA is MRSA.

BTW, that's a 2 year old post you're replying to.

Re: mask caused Staph Infection

Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 6:24 pm
by avi123
archangle wrote:
avi123 wrote:what is Golden Staph?[/color]
Staphlococcus aureus (SA) is golden staph. ("aureus" is gold.)

MRSA is a form of SA, but not all SA is MRSA.

BTW, that's a 2 year old post you're replying to.
Archman,

Thanks for the explanation!

Your spelling: Staphlococcus aureus (SA) is golden staph. ("aureus" is gold.)

But I meant: Staphylococcus aureus!

Is it the same

Two years old, ha? This one to blame: bahhumbug