Equipment
The most commonly used pieces of equipment for CF treatments are compressors, nebulizers and airway clearance devices. These are available for purchase through a variety of vendors in BC, including those in the links below. Please consult your clinic physio or pharmacist to determine what equipment you should be using to take your medications.
In order to function properly, and to prevent possible infection, most equipment needs to be cleaned regularly, and some of it needs to be replaced at regular intervals. Nebulizers should be replaced every 6 to 12 months, as should compressor filters. Compressors themselves should be replaced when they are no longer functioning well. This could be anywhere from 5 to 15 years depending on the model and amount of use.
A group of Canadian CF physiotherapists has put together a document about equipment cleaning, and it covers all of the commonly used airway clearance and nebulization devices. At the very least, airway clearance devices and nebulizers should be cleaned in warm soapy water (use a mild dish soap like Sunlight), rinsed and air dried after each use. These devices should be disinfected at least once per week. There are several ways to do this. Most Pari equipment is okay to go in the dishwasher on the top rack, which is fine if your dishwasher gets hot enough to kill bugs (>70°C or 158°F for 30 minutes). If it doesn’t, boiling for 10 minutes is the next-easiest option. Soaking for 10 minutes in rubbing alcohol or 30 minutes in 3% hydrogen peroxide is also an option. Soaking in a solution of 3 parts water to one part white vinegar used to be recommended; however, there is some question as to whether vinegar kills pseudomonas effectively, so we no longer recommend this method. Rinse the devices with sterile water (water you boiled for 10 minutes or sterile water you purchased) and allow to air dry on a clean surface.
Don’t clean the nebulizer tubing. Replace it when you get a new nebulizer.
Here are links to some commonly-used equipment suppliers in BC, plus the link to the website that sells the eFlow system and its replacement parts in Canada:
http://www.westcaremedical.com/