Infections, Bacterias, Bugs that Haunt the CPAP hose

I use an electric duster/ data vac . I blows the water right out of the hose. Works great for the water tank as well after cleaning it.

I'm doomed! I don't clean my hose.

ringo728 wrote: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.

What exactly were their instruction?

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.

Of that 50%, 40% won't work because of the mental problem "Can't Syndrome". Not only is the mind a terrible thing to waste, it can become your worst enemy.

Zinc deficiency, can promote fungal infections, also this year a persistent cough has been going around, it's been hard to get over. Jim

Can someone explain how bacteria allegedly growing in a hose will cause a fungal infection?

Randyp1234 wrote:Can someone explain how bacteria allegedly growing in a hose will cause a fungal infection?

I'm wondering how gross the tubing must have gotten? Because even things like nebulizers can get growth in them. My daughter's nebulizer tubes often get condensation in them and we've never dealt with fungal or bacterial infections from the tubing.

Perhaps it's really Sick Building Syndrome.

I'm surprised a link to the expen$ive the germ-killing device has not yet been posted.
Then again, it might be worth it for someone who is very anxious about germs and stuff.
--Whatever it will take to be comfortable with therapy that can SAVE YOUR LIFE.

mollete wrote:Perhaps it's really Sick Building Syndrome.

That's a big possibility. I know of people who've gotten VERY sick because of homes or work places

I know the OP has been fighting against CPAP since joining the forum and is likely looking for any reason to not use it. He even calls it BS in his original post.

Randyp1234 wrote:Can someone explain how bacteria allegedly growing in a hose will cause a fungal infection?

It won't. It may cause a bacterial infection. But let's not be a nitpicker. Many people confuse bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. The OP was diagnosed with a fungal infection. That means there is a possibility that a FUNGUS was growing in his equipment somewhere. But you knew that. How likely is this? Well let's look at Fungi:

There are a wide range of fungi - Mushrooms (yum) Penicillin (yay!) Yeast (Bread & Wine anyone?) molds (Blue Cheese! YAY! Toxic black mold booo) & mildew (ewwwww) Trichophyton rubru - Athletes foot (yuk) Candida albicans (blech!) Histoplasma capsulatum (Oh no!) Aspergillus (cough! wheeze!) They are everywhere and we are constantly exposed to them. Usually, a normally functioning immune system will protect us from infection from common fungi. But what if we blow fungi into our lungs for 8 hours a day under pressure? Hmmmm... seems reasonable that it would increase the risk.

Different fungi use different means of reproduction, and many use multiple means, but the most common means requires the following:

Spores -They are everywhere including in your bedroom.
Food -Almost anything that contains carbon atoms!
Appropriate temperatures -Generally the same temperature ranges that humans like!
Moisture - Most fungi like a much higher humidity level than humans -- around 70% or so, like in a CPAP humidifier or tubing through which humidified air has been flowing or a mask through which your humidified breath ahs been flowing along with the humidified air.

By interfering with any one of these elements one can interfere with the growth. But there was a study done that revealed high levels of fungi and bacteria on CPAP equipment and the number of bacteria / fungi did not correlate with cleaning practices, but they did correlate with age. In other words, it didn't matter how well you clean your equipment, but the older the equipment the higher the number of bacteria and fungi.

It seems the OP was just unlucky and/or had an immune system failure of some sort. But it is VERY believable that his fungal infection came from his CPAP equipment. It may be uncomfortable to accept, but it is VERY believable!

Here's some info from the study:
CPAP Masks are Sources of Microbial Contamination:
http://www.airwayhealth.com/wp-content/ ... crobes.pdf

Prayers for a quick recovery for you, ringo. I Do hope it was a fluke and that your therapy can continue if it is helping you!

Blessings,

Kate

Goofproof wrote:... 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. ...

Exactly! I've used a xPAP device for almost 25 years at this point. I change my hose about every 12 months. I change my mask every six months. I change my mask cushion about every two months.

A few times (three or four) I've had the smell of a fungal infection on my breathing circuit. I get VERY serious about cleaning it then.

I've had NO such problems. I don't wash and rinse everything every day. I don't do anything extraordinary. But then we're not neat freaks. I occasionally come down with a head/chest cold. But I would anyway.

In fact, since starting my xPAP therapy almost 25 years ago, I only rarely come down with a cold. I used to get them four or five times per year. I would have bronchitis at least twice per year. I now get a cold about twice a year and bronchitis about once every four years.

So, if anything, I would say that xPAP therapy has greatly improved my lung health.

While your mileage will vary, I know from what others have posted, my experience is much more of the norm that that of the original poster.

SleepyonMagnoliaSt wrote:
I know the OP has been fighting against CPAP since joining the forum and is likely looking for any reason to not use it. He even calls it BS in his original post.

I think you must be confusing this OP with another user. UNless I missed something, his posts have not shown a resistance at all but a commitment to make it work, IMO. He expressed frustration in the op in this thread because despite doing everything "right" he got sick. I would be frustrated too.

From the OPs intro thread:

ringo728 wrote:Hello,
I'm a 64 year old guy who was put on CPAP therapy about 10 days ago. I really am new to this whole thing but have concluded that educating myself about this condition and the benefits of CPAP therapy will be a constant "work in progress" as well as a "trial and error" experience but I am committed.

A review of the OP previous posts reveals that he was told to use baby shampoo to clean the equipment, which I do not believe to be appropriate advice. One should use "dish detergent" because it rinses away completely.

mollete wrote:A review of the OP previous posts reveals that he was told to use baby shampoo to clean the equipment, which I do not believe to be appropriate advice. One should use "dish detergent" because it rinses away completely.

From the ResMed instructions on cleaning masks etc. "We recommend plain Ivory® liquid soap or baby shampoo."

Blessings,

Kate

The thought of having to "DRY" a CPAP hose is just absolutely ridiculous!
If the user believes (for some strange reason) that the hose NEEDS to be washed or cleaned, then it should be done in the evening before bedtime and that way, if there is any residual moisture in the hose, it will be added to the humidity from the machine's humidifier after it's turned on.

Other than filling mine with hot water a couple of times to check for leaks, in eight years, I've NEVER "cleaned" my CPAP hose........and I've been using the very same one that I started my therapy with in May of 2005.


Den

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