Covid-19, CPAP cleaning regimen

[jnk...]

Avoid everyone.

Even that appears to have limitations, as the following article comparing flu to COVID-19 suggests:

Possible difference: COVID-19 might be spread through the airborne route, meaning that tiny droplets remaining in the air could cause disease in others even after the ill person is no longer near.

Antiviral Medications

COVID-19: Antiviral medications are currently being tested to see if they can address symptoms.

Flu: Antiviral medications can address symptoms and sometimes shorten the duration of the illness.

Vaccine

COVID-19: No vaccine is available at this time, though it is in progress.

Flu: A vaccine is available and effective to prevent some of the most dangerous types or to reduce the severity of the flu.

. . . The COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly. Since this disease is caused by a new virus, people do not have immunity to it, and a vaccine may be many months away. Doctors and scientists are working on estimating the mortality rate of COVID-19, but at present, it is thought to be higher than that of most strains of the flu.

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/ ... vs-the-flu

When there are at least some known highly-effective medical tools for a particular death-dealing virus, great. That is a very different situation from a quickly-spreading serious virus without them. In the latter circumstance, social distancing and mandatory quarantine become the tools of the day for preserving life. And those tools look a heck of a lot like "panic" even when they are responsibly enacted.

No official in any location wants to make large weddings and funerals illegal, for example. But it can happen for a good reason. At least for this virus. Not for the common flu. And that, in a nutshell, is the difference.

In this area of 16 million people, the coronavirus’s European epicenter, where the number of cases has been rising rapidly, Italy banned all public gatherings—no weddings, funerals, concerts, sporting events, discos, bingo games, video arcades, or Mass—until April 3.
--https://www.theatlantic.com/internation ... re/607660/

The virus is unlikely to be stopped. But slowing its spread with changes in behavior could provide some time to find better constructive medical ways of being responsible about dealing with it.

[palerider]

Vinegar is perfectly competent at killing viruses and bacteria, so I would use that on the mask and hose over alcohol to avoid degrading the material.

Alcohol does not bother the silicone, or the plastic.

Most resources, including ResMed, say differently. Hard plastic, sure, no problem, but I wouldn't use it on soft silicone.

I thought alcohol was bad for my mask too. Pale convinced it wasn't and I have been using Purell for maybe a couple of years with no damage to my cushion.

Sheriff

Like so many myths about cpap treatment, spread and reinforced by DMEs, I guess.

[palerider]

. Although on a second read, they also advise against pretty much any solution, including vinegar. Their objections seem to be more over scents than damage. Good to know.

Silicone will soak up some smells, getting cigarette stench out of the silicone parts inside a machine is non-trivial.

[colomom]

If you want to reduce the chances of him picking up germs or a virus from his CPAP machine, then stop cleaning his equipment for him.

If he is the only one who handles his equipment, than the only pathogens on his equipment come from him and he's already exposed to them.

When you clean his equipment, you are leaving pathogens that he may not have been exposed to (yet).

Great catch!
Of couse, if he is disabled, not a choice--but if he can--he SHOULD.

Where did I say I clean my son's equipment for him? (hint I didn't say that because I don't).
If I want advice on parenting I would have posted on a parenting forum.

Thank you to everyone who have posted helpful advice in regards to my original question. My takeaway from this conversation is that the consensus is at worst disinfecting with alcohol wipes may degrade the mask slightly more quickly, but many even doubt that is an issue.

[palerider]

Unlike the flu, there are no vaccines or effective treatments for this virus. Perhaps in 12 to 18 months, if that fact changes, then such comparisons will be valid. At least, let's hope so. Until then, I personally consider that comparison to be grossly irresponsible. Hey, just me.

Vaccines are not 100% effective for the flu, maybe 50%? If caught in time, tamiflu can help prevent the worsening of symptoms.

We're talking about the *over-reaction* panic buying and hoarding. Should people be cautious? stop shaking hands, wash them, stop sticking their dirty fingers up their noses? absolutely.

You're welcome to dismiss 19,000 dead people by saying that it's grossly 'irresponsible'.

I don't.. Hey, just me.

[palerider]

the consensus is at worst disinfecting with alcohol wipes may degrade the mask slightly more quickly, but many even doubt that is an issue.

Or you could just listen to science:
https://www.coleparmer.com/chemical-resistance
https://www.customadvanced.com/chemical ... &rubber=SI

[Becca8104]

well, my cleaning regimen has changed because I can't find a single disinfectant wipe including baby wipes in a 10 mile radius. (area around where I live & work). I am not willing to try longer trips desperately searching for any and all wipes. I haven't tried ordering online yet, but don't think I need to do that when soap & water is still available within that 10 mile radius. I went from wiping my mask daily with a disinfectant wipe after returning from work to washing it in the morning with soap & water before going to work. My mask components aren't always completely dry by bedtime, (it is really humid in south Texas right now), but a paper towel mops up any excess moisture for the most part. The headgear may be a little damp & cold, but if I want to, I can use my spare N30i with chin strap while my mask parts continue to dry overnight. I am still sticking with weekly whole mask, humidifier, & hose washing with soap & water . The only difference in my CPAP life right now is not using wipes. I may not go back to using them if my morning routine of washing my mask with soap & water before work continues to be a habit for some time to come. I guess parents with babies will have to wipe their baby's bottom the old fashioned way (like my mother had to do) with soap & water & a wash cloth. At least we can still find soap & water available. Since installing a water softener/filter system, I now use tap water in my tank & no issues with slime or build up. As long as my tap has running water & we don't start having a panic run on all soap products, I am good to go.

[colomom]

So, on the average, over 90% survivable, less if you are old, or not in good health.
Why is there so much PANIC?
You would think it was ebola by the media freak-out.

There is "panic" because many who are old and in bad health can DIE from exposure to a virus that can apparently be spread by casual contact with asymptomatic people, and no effective treatment is known. Therefore, extreme social-distancing safeguards may soon need to be enacted to save lives. Such disruptive measures have the potential to have lasting serious effects on economies and support systems.

People make fun of people stockpiling toilet paper, but if you fear the likelihood of being confined to your home by an official order of quarantine, you naturally want to stockpile what you will need when movement (no pun intended) is restricted.

Good points jnk!
The thing that concerns me most about CORVID-19 is that some may be asymptomatic carriers of the virus and for many it will be no worse than a common cold or flu. For the 3.4% (or whatever the number ends up being) who have high risk because they are elderly or have preexisting conditions a 3.4% death rate is devastating.

For those of you who unlike my son have been blessed with a genetic predisposition to good health, I beg you as you go about your day to day tasks to consider the 3.4% who could die from CORVID-19.
Please do your best to limit the spread of this virus to vulnerable populations, and please do not dismiss concerns raised by the most vulnerable among us as overreaction.

[jnk...]

I consider a fistfight over toilet paper an overreaction. I consider stocking up for a family of five for a possible quarantine understandable.

Let us all hope responsible actions by authorities and the public are able to keep COVID-19 deaths low.

If so-called Spanish Flu taught nothing else, it is the folly of discounting unknown risks in the name of political
and economic expediency under the guise of national security.

[mysteriously trips and falls off soapbox with no apparent explanation as someone whispers into his sleeve "take the shot"]

[Becca8104]

a lot of us on this forum are at least 60 and above and have breathing, immune system, & other health issues that does make this a scary situation, but I don't agree with hoarding toilet paper & cleaning supplies, but I do understand it's based on fear & panic. We can't even rely on a Sears & Roebuck catalog to use for toilet paper (yes, folks, this really used to happen during the depression/WWII years) because the Sears catalog stopped being produced decades ago. Maybe we can use that annoying junk mail instead to wipe our bums. My employer is considering allowing anyone 60 years of age or older, especially those that have serious health issues to work from home. I am hoping that happens as I am 60 and have serious medical issues, so I would qualify for their work from home program. I would love for that to happen.

[zonker]

Where did I say I clean my son's equipment for him? (hint I didn't say that because I don't).
If I want advice on parenting I would have posted on a parenting forum.

one could construe you did by your wording here-

Our current cleaning regimen for his CPAP is emptying and drying the humidifier chamber and wiping the mask with a baby wipe daily. We clean the mask, hose, and humidifier chamber with soap and water one a week. We also clean and change out filters on a more aggressive schedule than the manufacturer recommends.

My son has higher risk of exposure to because he encounters numerous people each day while attending college and his pulmonary issues put him in a higher risk category, so I wonder if we should step up our cleaning regimen.

I am considering wiping his mask and buttons on his machine with a 70% alcohol wipe each day. I figure his mask might degrade more quickly with the addition of the alcohol cleaning, is there any additional harm beyond that to consider?

there is much mention of "we" and then "i am considering".

nowhere does it say HE does this.

not trying to start a fight. just pointing out what you have typed and i realize that english is a fluid language and so forth.

[jnk...]

mention of "we" . . . english is a fluid language and so forth.

Oh we have never been a fan of the double-edged ambiguity of implied/inferred nosism!

[zonker]

mention of "we" . . . english is a fluid language and so forth.

Oh we have never been a fan of the double-edged ambiguity of implied/inferred nosism!

oh dear. we were forced to go look nosism up.

we thank you for the education.

[jnk...]

Sometimes I have to work extra hard to find new ways to be irritating in this forum.

[palerider]

Sometimes I have to work extra hard to find new ways to be irritating in this forum.

Everybody needs a hobby