Question Neoprene Suit Sterilisation Recommendations

[oakendal]

Hello everybody, this is my first thread here on ScubaBoard so if I’ve put it in the wrong category, my apologies.

Anyway, I’ve had a recent bout of MRSA and as an instructor I am constantly using my wetsuit. Therefore, I’m going to have to start sterilising my wetsuit instead of just regular cleaning in order to keep instructing - doctor’s orders.

I’ve found a couple of tables online that rate how a chemical interacts with neoprene (that is, damage to the neoprene). I found that Sodium hypochlorite in very low concentration is supposed to have little effect on neoprene, however I was not able to find any information on Sodium troclosine (dichloroisocyanurate). This is what Milton’s sterilising tablets contain at ~20% wbv per tablet; this is what is available to me at the moment.

If anybody has experience using disinfecting agents on neoprene and has suggestions I’d be very happy to hear from you.

Thanks very much.

 

[happy-diver]

What about steramine and that other rebreather can't think stuff

Bleach works for me, but not necessarily, the whole entire bottle

 

[jellycatsdad]

I’ve used Lysol Laundry Sanitizer on my wetsuit. 2 capfuls into a 35-40 gallon trash can filled with water to cover the suit.

Hydrogen peroxide doesn’t play nice with neoprene, either does chlorine.

 

[Capt Jim Wyatt]

Anyway, I’ve had a recent bout of MRSA and as an instructor

What does that mean? You got MRSA from your wetsuit?

 

[Imla]

If you have been a carrier of MRSA and been successfully treated and confirmed a non-carrier I would personally trow away the wetsuit and get a new one. Completely cleaning/eradicating MRSA from a porous material like neoprene will be exceedingly difficult.
If you still were to try to "clean it" I would soak it for 30minutes in a solution of Virkon or PeraSafe which are both proven agents to eradicate MRSA as well as other antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Depending on location of colonization, you might want to sanitize regulators as well.
Keep in mind, I live in Norway and work in health care, where MRSA still is not endemic, and is still kept at bay. If you carry MRSA as a health care worker you are given a work-ban and all patients identified with MRSA are isolated with high contagion precautions. This may colour my answer in regards to severity. I do not know the prevalence of MRSA in your country and it may just be a nuisance.

However.... If you have MRSA IN your suit, and toss it in a communal rinse-bin, you MAY cause someone like me a permanent work-ban!

@Duke Dive Medicine can probably chime in with more information.

 

[Simpel]

I use tea tree oil for my neoprene
which is said to have a strong antibacterial and fungicidal effect.

 

[oakendal]

If you have been a carrier of MRSA and been successfully treated and confirmed a non-carrier I would personally trow away the wetsuit and get a new one. Completely cleaning/eradicating MRSA from a porous material like neoprene will be exceedingly difficult.
If you still were to try to "clean it" I would soak it for 30minutes in a solution of Virkon or PeraSafe which are both proven agents to eradicate MRSA as well as other antibiotic resistant bacteria.
Depending on location of colonization, you might want to sanitize regulators as well.
Keep in mind, I live in Norway and work in health care, where MRSA still is not endemic, and is still kept at bay. If you carry MRSA as a health care worker you are given a work-ban and all patients identified with MRSA are isolated with high contagion precautions. This may colour my answer in regards to severity. I do not know the prevalence of MRSA in your country and it may just be a nuisance.

However.... If you have MRSA IN your suit, and toss it in a communal rinse-bin, you MAY cause someone like me a permanent work-ban!

@Duke Dive Medicine can probably chime in with more information.

Thank you very much for your response, I have not been confirmed a non-carrier; is it as easy as going to any walk-in clinic and requesting a test?

Financially at the moment I’ve no choice but to sterilise.

The colonisation seems to only be in the lower legs which would coincide with where I get suit rash.

In regard to the note about the communal wash-bins - I’ve always been very meticulous about not washing my suit or reg in that water so you don’t have to worry about that from me! Once I return to the club I also plan on notifying my colleagues to steer clear of coming into contact with my equipment.

Again, thanks so much for your reply!

 

[oakendal]

What does that mean? You got MRSA from your wetsuit?

It’s more likely that I was just a carrier and a break in the skin from suit rash caused the infection. At least that’s what my doctor and I concluded.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

I wonder if Steramine would work? It is widely used in the food industry and also in the scuba industry for sterilizing equipment. The bottle does say that it kills CA-MRSA. I soak my regulator 2nd stages and wing mouthpiece in it as part of my equipment rinsing process. Not sure if it would work on neoprene or not, but may be worth investigating.

 

[DanBMW]

At the aquarium where I volunteer, we use diluted chlorine, for soaking all wetsuits (at least 15 minutes) between dives for two reasons. Keep from mixing anything from one tank to another tank and diver hygienics. We use another chemical for all regulators, but I'd have to research that for you if you are interested? If I were you, I'd contact several commercial aquariums and talk to their Diving Safety Officer or Diver Control Board for additional help. They deal with simular situations daily.