CPAP's & strep in the family

[Iowadawn]

For those who don't use one, a CPAP device is a medical machine prescribed for trx of sleep apnea. The person wears a mask that is attached to this machine. I got a sick feeling when I laid down and "CPAP" (my husband's) popped in my head as a possible culprit to our family's strep factory. We're thinking. Is this device/mask/hose/filter/unit interior harboring & recirculating the bacteria. My husband just ordered new filters/hospital disinfectant/hose/ mask. He has used a CPAP for years. We are searching. Any other CPAP users out there with strep problems??

 

Dawn

[thereishope]

I'm not familiar with this machine, but was wondering if your husband had strep while using it? Do you know if the machine itself is self contained to be possibly used by multiple people without passing germs and infections? I may be way off base here but my comparison is to something totally different....a breast pump. Ones that you buy in the store, can store germs in the machine itself. Only hopsital grade ones don't circulate the germs. You just replace the outside pieces for each person. But then, it would only be a concern for your husband's machine if he had strep while using it.

 

You can probably contact the manufacturer with a serial number and ask them how contained the machine is and if would harbor bacteria.

 

Finally, can you sterilize the pieces in boiling water in the future so you don't have to keep buying new pieces?

[Lotafaith]

My mom using one and has to clean her equipment daily with vinegar and water, they said that would keep it clean enough

 

interesting

 

Lotafaith

 

 

For those who don't use one, a CPAP device is a medical machine prescribed for trx of sleep apnea. The person wears a mask that is attached to this machine. I got a sick feeling when I laid down and "CPAP" (my husband's) popped in my head as a possible culprit to our family's strep factory. We're thinking. Is this device/mask/hose/filter/unit interior harboring & recirculating the bacteria. My husband just ordered new filters/hospital disinfectant/hose/ mask. He has used a CPAP for years. We are searching. Any other CPAP users out there with strep problems??

 

Dawn

[7upMom]

Thats an interesting thought! We have a UV light on our furnace which helps kill the bacteria in our house so it doesn't keep recirculating it around. We saw a HUGE difference after having this installed in how much everyone was getting sick. I could def see the thinking with this possibly recirc into the air.

[zazuk2010]

Thats an interesting thought! We have a UV light on our furnace which helps kill the bacteria in our house so it doesn't keep recirculating it around. We saw a HUGE difference after having this installed in how much everyone was getting sick. I could def see the thinking with this possibly recirc into the air.

 

 

My husband does use one. This is so interesting. Will deal with it today! Thank you for posting this.

 

Kari

[Iowadawn]

I'll let you know how things go--went to our local GP today. Came home with scripts for all 5 of us for Zith for a month. Also, hubby has marching orders and items to help the machine stay sanitary coming in the mail. He also had the machine as apart as he can get it in order to clean it. We have no idea if this could be an issue, but I can see where it might keep him constantly exposed if there was a strep problem. We'll give it a whirl and keep you posted. I don't know why the possibility of the CPAP machine being a culprit waited until last night to hit me like a 2x4 over the head.

 

Dawn