07-04-2013, 12:14 AM
RE: Be Careful What Filters You Use!
As best as I can tell from the manufacturer's information, these antibacterial filters are intended for use on "multi-patient" machines, such as hospital, emergency rooms, sleep labs, etc. You can't sterilize a CPAP machine, so this provides a bacterial barrier. The hose and mask can be cleaned, but not the guts of the CPAP machine.
You really shouldn't get that many germs from the patient back into the CPAP machine, since they'd have to "swim" upstream in the air flow. Also, other than the water tank, it's not a very good germ growth environment, since it's dry. Maybe they're a little afraid of germs from the hospital room getting into the machine and lurking there.
In any case, I think the antibacterial filters are mostly for lawsuit/CYA/yuck factor/abundance of caution reasons.
I also think they're intended for single night use. If you have a humidifier, the filter is going to be a dust coated, warm, wet sponge. If you don't throw it away after a night or two worth of use, it sounds to me like it will be a germ breeding ground. Would you breathe through a wet rag one and then keep breathing through the same rag night after night without cleaning?
You really shouldn't get that many germs from the patient back into the CPAP machine, since they'd have to "swim" upstream in the air flow. Also, other than the water tank, it's not a very good germ growth environment, since it's dry. Maybe they're a little afraid of germs from the hospital room getting into the machine and lurking there.
In any case, I think the antibacterial filters are mostly for lawsuit/CYA/yuck factor/abundance of caution reasons.
I also think they're intended for single night use. If you have a humidifier, the filter is going to be a dust coated, warm, wet sponge. If you don't throw it away after a night or two worth of use, it sounds to me like it will be a germ breeding ground. Would you breathe through a wet rag one and then keep breathing through the same rag night after night without cleaning?
Get the free OSCAR CPAP software here.
Useful links.
Click here for information on the main alternative to CPAP.
If it's midnight and a DME tells you it's dark outside, go and check it yourself.
Useful links.
Click here for information on the main alternative to CPAP.
If it's midnight and a DME tells you it's dark outside, go and check it yourself.
