Infections, Bacterias, Bugs that Haunt the CPAP hose

[ringo728]

No matter how long it takes to dry a CPAP hose (either by hanging it, waving in the air, or just blowing it out with a hair dryer or any other device to dry the damn thing) the micro water droplets in the interior hose after rinsing still stay in it... all day... in it's curled dark internal state... in a moist bathroom or wherever) will attract bacteria and it's nasty offspring that can ultimately end up in the human lungs. It happened to me! Diagnosed by my doc today. Fungal infection. Never had a problem before. I am anal about cleaniness and followed all the instructions and due diligence from the DME and the hospital sleep center and now face a horrible fungal infection in my lungs. I don't smoke, live right, and my house is CLEAN! Did this CPAP BS for 5 weeks and after this bout I'm going to an oral appliance. Beware of the bugs that may haunt you!

[ughwhatname]

No matter how long it takes to dry a CPAP hose (either by hanging it, waving in the air, or just blowing it out with a hair dryer or any other device to dry the damn thing) the micro water droplets in the interior hose after rinsing still stay in it... all day... in it's curled dark internal state... in a moist bathroom or wherever) will attract bacteria and it's nasty offspring that can ultimately end up in the human lungs. It happened to me! Diagnosed by my doc today. Fungal infection. Never had a problem before. I am anal about cleaniness and followed all the instructions and due diligence from the DME and the hospital sleep center and now face a horrible fungal infection in my lungs. I don't smoke, live right, and my house is CLEAN! Did this CPAP BS for 5 weeks and after this bout I'm going to an oral appliance. Beware of the bugs that may haunt you!

I'm sorry to hear you got a fungal infection. Its sounds terrible.

Truth be known, I don't even rinse my heated hose very often. I do rinse my short hose, my TAP PAP mouthpiece and hang to dry in the bathroom. I guess I subscribe to the "a little dirt won't hurt" philosophy, but your situation sounds awful.

[Goofproof]

Maybe it's your clean living life style that lowered your immune system that's responsible for your infection, the bugs you are trying to avoid, are making me healthy.

It's been over 6 months since I did anything to mine, but replace the hose and mask, and machine filters, and my house has some mold. I run a de-humidifier & take vitamin "C". As far as stopping xpap in favor of a oral appliance, made in china or by someone who had bad hygiene habits, never going to happen. Jim

The bathroom is the worst place for germs in your house, the second if the kitchen sink.

[Todzo]

No matter how long it takes to dry a CPAP hose (either by hanging it, waving in the air, or just blowing it out with a hair dryer or any other device to dry the damn thing) the micro water droplets in the interior hose after rinsing still stay in it... all day... in it's curled dark internal state... in a moist bathroom or wherever) will attract bacteria and it's nasty offspring that can ultimately end up in the human lungs. It happened to me! Diagnosed by my doc today. Fungal infection. Never had a problem before. I am anal about cleaniness and followed all the instructions and due diligence from the DME and the hospital sleep center and now face a horrible fungal infection in my lungs. I don't smoke, live right, and my house is CLEAN! Did this CPAP BS for 5 weeks and after this bout I'm going to an oral appliance. Beware of the bugs that may haunt you!

I think the problem is not enough bugs too little diverse. I am enjoying my borrow of this book: http://www.amazon.com/Honor-Thy-Symbion ... 481258796/ .

Have a great weekend!

Todzo

[patrick_a]

The only thing I'm cleaning w/liq is the mask and the coarse foam filter on the back of the mach.

[49er]

No matter how long it takes to dry a CPAP hose (either by hanging it, waving in the air, or just blowing it out with a hair dryer or any other device to dry the damn thing) the micro water droplets in the interior hose after rinsing still stay in it... all day... in it's curled dark internal state... in a moist bathroom or wherever) will attract bacteria and it's nasty offspring that can ultimately end up in the human lungs. It happened to me! Diagnosed by my doc today. Fungal infection. Never had a problem before. I am anal about cleaniness and followed all the instructions and due diligence from the DME and the hospital sleep center and now face a horrible fungal infection in my lungs. I don't smoke, live right, and my house is CLEAN! Did this CPAP BS for 5 weeks and after this bout I'm going to an oral appliance. Beware of the bugs that may haunt you!

I am so sorry about your situation as it sounds horrible.

I have never rinsed the hose because I actually feared exactly what happened in your situation with the micro water droplets not drying and causing more problems with sanitation. It seems easier to me to replace the hose on a set schedule since replacement ones don't cost that much.

49er

[Loreena]

I dry mine with the cpap running at pressure 20 for about 15 minutes. It absolutely dries it completely. Sorry for your illness. Sounds awful.

No matter how long it takes to dry a CPAP hose (either by hanging it, waving in the air, or just blowing it out with a hair dryer or any other device to dry the damn thing) the micro water droplets in the interior hose after rinsing still stay in it... all day... in it's curled dark internal state... in a moist bathroom or wherever) will attract bacteria and it's nasty offspring that can ultimately end up in the human lungs. It happened to me! Diagnosed by my doc today. Fungal infection. Never had a problem before. I am anal about cleaniness and followed all the instructions and due diligence from the DME and the hospital sleep center and now face a horrible fungal infection in my lungs. I don't smoke, live right, and my house is CLEAN! Did this CPAP BS for 5 weeks and after this bout I'm going to an oral appliance. Beware of the bugs that may haunt you!

[squid13]

I treated myself to one of these and when I wash my stuff I dry it. I know it's extravagant but it's nice to have. https://www.cpap.com/productpage/mvap-h ... dryer.html

[-tim]

I treated myself to one of these and when I wash my stuff I dry it. I know it's extravagant but it's nice to have. https://www.cpap.com/productpage/mvap-hu ... dryer.html

I like mine better, and it was cheaper but more work....

Mold isn't killed by soap or alcohol or bleach.

No matter how long it takes to dry a CPAP hose (either by hanging it, waving in the air, or just blowing it out with a hair dryer or any other device to dry the damn thing) the micro water droplets in the interior hose after rinsing still stay in it... all day... in it's curled dark internal state... in a moist bathroom or wherever) will attract bacteria and it's nasty offspring that can ultimately end up in the human lungs. It happened to me! Diagnosed by my doc today. Fungal infection. Never had a problem before. I am anal about cleaniness and followed all the instructions and due diligence from the DME and the hospital sleep center and now face a horrible fungal infection in my lungs. I don't smoke, live right, and my house is CLEAN! Did this CPAP BS for 5 weeks and after this bout I'm going to an oral appliance. Beware of the bugs that may haunt you!

Ringo728, I'm sorry to hear about your problems. There are anti-everything filter that go on the mask end of the gear.

[quietmorning]

I had the same problem - nothing ever dries here - and the mold is atrocious. I bought a hurricane cpap equipment dryer - and it has paid for itself many times over. I never let the water in the humidifier tank stand. It gets emptied first thing in the morning and then run through a 30 minute dry time. I wipe down my hose daily with Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Wipes - Night Calming (pushing the wipe through the tubes (one at a time) with a wooden dowel rod) (the cpap mask wipes solution turns rancid in the hose by evening and it smells HORRID, so I don't use the cpap mask wipes in the cpap hose or short hose) and wipe the mask with the cpap mask wipes. I do not use the dryer for this, so far, I haven't had any thing go rancid with this product.

Once a week a scrub the hose and mask with a gentle soap and water and tube brush - then put everything in the dryer for two hours. (I set it twice because the cloth part of the mask takes longer to dry).

So far, doing this (for a year, now) I've had no fungal growths any where - and my white blood cells that kill molds are finally back down to a normal level. (They were way way way high before I started doing this.)

Here's the link to the equipment dryer if you are interested:
https://www.cpap.com/productpage/mvap-h ... dryer.html

[nanwilson]

Do not leave any of your gear in the bathroom to dry...YUCKKKKKK. Mythbusters did a segment on bathroom germs and it was horrible... those little buggers can float around for up to 20 feet away. I put my toothbrush In the cabinet and I dry my gear In another room .... and Im nowhere near a clean freak .

[quietmorning]

I treated myself to one of these and when I wash my stuff I dry it. I know it's extravagant but it's nice to have. https://www.cpap.com/productpage/mvap-h ... dryer.html

Whoops, you got there first. . .need another cup of coffee so's I can pay closer attention.

[Sheriff Buford]

Ring: do you need the humidifier?

Sheriff

[chunkyfrog]

I wonder if the fungal infection may have already been present, but after cpap use,
the doctor finally got smart enough to look for SOMETHING ELSE. I hate when they do that.

[ringo728]

I do hang the hose in a bathroom... but the bathroom I hang it in is never used and its as "clean as a whistle". My wife sees to that. We have 3 bathrooms. The RT that delivered the equipment stated that I shouldn't hang it (after washing it) in direct sunlight but in a dark, dry place...so this was the logical choice. I am somewhat of a "clean freak" and maintain and clean it (and the rest of my equipment) according to the directions I was given by the RT. I see the pulmonary doc on Friday to discuss all of my options. Until then he has directed me to not use CPAP until my lungs heal. I never had this condition before CPAP. It's horrible! I did sleep last night (mostly on my side to avoid my back) and I don't feel too bad this morning. Also my lungs feel a little better and the severe cough and phlegm have subsided a bit. I'm also on a strong antibiotic. Thanks to all who wished me well. I appreciate it. This is a real bummer of a condition that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy! Maybe I'm one of the 50% that CPAP won't work and will have to opt for an oral appliance. My doctor will make that decision.