Bacteria Filter?

[LoQ]

With so many people complaining about respiratory illness, it has made me wonder about the benefit of this filter:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/Respir ... -pack.html

The text says:

The In-line Bacteria Filter is a must-have among CPAP supplies for any customer suffering from allergies.

I'm not sure what the connection is between having allergies and needing a bacteria filter. I would wonder if this is really a bacteria filter or if it is an allergen filter.

Does anybody use one of these? What is your impression of it?

[happysleeper]

Hi LoQ,

I just visited my sleep doc, who mentioned to me that the in-line filters are often used by folks who are worried that they may be getting pneumonia from their machine. My understanding is that occasionally people forget to empty their humidifiers daily, and moisture could possibly condense inside the CPAP machine, causing mold/germs to grow in there. If the person has a pattern of getting pneumonia, using these filters in the tubing line after the air comes out of the machine, can possibly filter the germs/mold from the air that gets to their mask/nose/lungs.

I don't know if research bears this out, and in reading the comments on the cpaptalk.com page, the in-line filter looks challenging to use due to moisture buildup and expense.

I'd rather just empty my humidifier daily right after I stop using the CPAP machine. I then put the humidifier right back into its place and the S9 gently blows dry air over it as the S9 cools down, which then also dries the system. Since I have allergies and live in a high-allergen area, I use the hylopallergenic filter at the air intake, which works for me.
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/resmed ... neric.html

Happy Sleeper

[LoQ]

Thanks for that helpful information. I wish they had one of those hypoallergenic filters for the S7.

[sleepycarol]

I use the in line filter that goes between the humidifier and the hose. You would be surprised at all the gunk it filters out!! My intake filter is seldom very dirty, but boy does the in-line filter get dirty!!!

I have severe allergies and it seems that the intake filter is not as good as catching the gunk on the S8 Vantage as the M series fine filter + the gray filter were.

I recommend them.

[WillSucceed]

Hey Sleepycarol:

By having your hepa filter placed AFTER the humidifier tank, the filter media will suffer reduced effectiveness and longevity due to the moisture from the water tank. Fibre-based filters are meant to be used AFTER the flow generator and BEFORE the humidifier. Some of what you are thinking as captured junk in the filter may well actually be the filter changing colour due to moisture rather than trapped particles, etc.

Try this:
Simply take an N95 or N99 respirator mask (you can buy them at the medical supply store) and, using the existing intake filter in the machine as a template, cut out several new filters. These filters are waaaaaaay less expensive than buying name-brand filters for your specific device and, given the effectiveness of the N95 or N99 media, they will make the air you breathe through your machine exceptionally clean.

If you are buying name-brand filters that fit the air intake, make sure that you are buying filters that are specifically labled as "hepa."

I put a new filter in before traveling and, upon returning home, toss the filter and install a new one. I just came home from 10 days away and, yet again, am horrified by how dirty the filter is... I'm inclined to think that hotels, no matter the quality, are not overly well cared-for.

[M.D.Hosehead]

Repeating what I've posted on another thread, the bacteria filter helps my allergies a lot. I think of it as a final filter the air goes through before it's pumped into my nose.

I have no allergy symptoms all night, but they start up within 30 min of breathing room air after I wake up. I suppose that a filter that will stop bacteria, will also stop pollen and other, larger particles (such as insect feces--yuk).

[GumbyCT]

My DME gave me one some time ago - I've forgotten the reason. On the M series the only place you can put it is after the humidifier. I felt it reduced my pressure too much.

I thought it was a bit of overkill using this with the fine white filter. Rather than increase the pressure I just removed it.

[sleepycarol]

At the present time I am using an S8 Vantage and was horrified about the filters I purchased. I looked and couldn't find any of the micro type filters that resemble the M series fine white filters. After using the Vantage for a few weeks I noticed that the filter didn't really look dirty, but replaced it. Same thing with the next filter I put in -- after a few weeks it did not look dirty. Yet, I knew from my experience with the M series that the filters were pretty bad in just a few weeks (a month or less).

Allergy symptoms had increased as well so I knew that the Vantage filters were not going to cut it. That is when I purchased the other filters and noticed a big change. I don't use the humidifier in the summer so should be okay on that part of it. I use the humidifier in passover mode in the winter.

A member on another forum suggested using the hepa furnace filters and cutting them to size. I haven't tried that.

I appreciate everyone's suggestions and will be sure and try them out.

[GumbyCT]

Walmart sells a white material in their fabric dept. I think would be perfect to make your own filters. It is thin and looks similar to the material used on the M series fine white filter minus the plastic frame it has.

[bearded_two]

I would not use fabric or other material designed for making clothing as an air filter, especially for a CPAP. Air filter media is designed to not add anything to the air passing through it. Sewing materials can contain many things that may be safe to wear in clothing, but are not necessarily good to breath, especially in a closed system like a CPAP. In addition, even though it may look similar to air filtering media, there is no way to know how effective sewing fabric and materials are in filtering air. I might cut up a purple label Filtrete furnace filter to use as a CPAP air filter, but I would never use something from a fabric store or department.

[happysleeper]

Hi WillSucceed,

I'm going to try your N95 filter suggestion, thanks!

Happy Sleeper

[GumbyCT]

I would not use fabric or other material designed for making clothing as an air filter,...

While I see your point if I had a Resmed and they didn't make fine filters for my machine - I would give it a try. Or if I couldn't afford what they charge for the filters.

For some reason my DME doesn't think I should even use the fine filter, tho I do. Maybe they don't think they make enuff money on them to bother?

Apria once gave me a used machine without any filters at all. It took me a month but I got filters from them.

[dkindc]

Do you think the fine intake filters (resmed-s9-cpap-machine-hypallergenic-disposable-filter-generic)

are as good or better than the outlet filters? (In-line-outlet-filter-cpap-bipap)

[DoriC]

For some reason my DME doesn't think I should even use the fine filter, tho I do. Maybe they don't think they make enuff money on them to bother?

Our DME told us the white fine filters were really "optional" and not necessary, but we use them anyway and change them once a month when I wash the sponge one but they don't get too dirty.