Sterilizing regs for diver with CF

[Mantra]

Hi all!

My wife/buddy has Cystic Fibrosis, and we are wanting to get into a good routine around sterilising her regs (as recommended by a few places like the British Thoracic Society et.al.). This is to prevent lung infection of pseudomonas etc.

She has her own regs which are hers exclusively to use.

I can't seem to find advice on what good practice around sterilising her regs would be, and I'm wondering if anyone here might have some advice?

Thanks!

 

[oly5050user]

any type of antiseptic can do it..or a weak solution of water and blac I would think cab also..The real question here is if someone with CF should dive.

 

[Mantra]

any type of antiseptic can do it..or a weak solution of water and blac I would think cab also.

Thanks. So - I'm not sure what blac or cab are. They are kinds of antiseptic, I gather? I didn't have much luck Googling for them? Can you give me any other info please? Would you recommend soaking in a solution of this? If so, any suggestions on the strength of the mixture and how long to soak for? I guess I am kind of after specifics here because, as I said, I had trouble finding info.

The real question here is if someone with CF should dive.

The short answer - she is fine to dive.

The long answer - I find your tone here hard to read. As an instructor, hopefully you are aware that it is case-by-case as to people with CF diving. In her specific instance, she is fine to dive. Specifically, her CF is borderline, her symptoms are principally digestive with negligible pulmonary involvement (spirometry results well within 'normal' healthy range - FEV of 93% of predicted, for example). She has been cleared by her CF specialists, and DAN are happy to insure her based on her medicals, etc. I, of course, agree that people with CF should be prudent when it comes to diving and err on the side of caution - hence my enquiry here. She doesn't have lung infections or impairments, and I'd like to keep it that way through good diving habits including proper sanitation. Any helpful advice in that direction is sincerely appreciated.

The 'real answer' to the 'real question' of "should someone with CF dive" is - it depends. I would not counsel ignoring expert medical advice. People who go diving contrary to expert medical opinion are idiots. People who tell others they can't dive, expert medical opinion notwithstanding, are similarly afflicted.

 

[japan-diver]

I would make sure here second stages are the type that allows easy removal of the cover and diaphragm so they can be washed and dried thoroughly after each dive- with the right regs this should not require tools. Also a simple reg w/o an air barrel in the second stage that would tend to trap moisture would be a good idea if you are being truly thorough (maybe even a bit paranoid) a good soak in mouthwash after each dive should do it. You can also look at the many different products that the rebreather guys use for disinfecting their loops as this would work well.

 

[steveharriss]

Virkon would be really useful here. I have a link to a paper with a review of the various products and Virkon won hands down with only TriGeneII anywhere close.

http://www.therebreathersite.nl/04_Links/Downloads/disinfectant.pdf

 

[Pao]

Nice paper. But I was just curious how you would go about cleaning an open circuit reg? Do you need to clean the 1st stage (surely you can't just take it apart and you definitely cannot flush it with the solution) or just the 2nd stage? EO gas comes to mind but it is dangerous to handle but quite effective. Well if you have a friend in a big hospital...

 

[offroadr1]

I think blac is supposed to be bleach. I'm stumped with cab though...

 

[steveharriss]

With 9.5 Bar of pressure coming from the 1st stage there is little chance of bugs finding their way back up as far as that! I assume the OP is referring to the second stage only. I use it for cleaning the loop and lungs of my rebreather having read that paper. I used to use Buddy Clean which, it turns out, is completely useless

 

[Mantra]

Thanks heaps everyone!

Japan-diver: we are diving HOG regs which are very easy to open up. Good point! It wouldnt have occurred to me to pull off the purge cover and diaphragm with each rinse. An antibacterial mouthwash isn't something I thought of. That sounds useful in a pinch! Appreciated.

Steveharriss: Virkon S is what we will go with after reading that. Thanks very much! That's an excellent write up, and Virkon S is readily available here in Australia, including from my local farm supply place.

Pao: I think we are just looking at cleaning the second stage, as I would imagine pressure keeps the first stage free of exhaled contaminants. Happy to be corrected on that point, but first stages are pretty much designed to prevent moisture ingress from respiration, right? So my plan is just to soak the second stages. Happy to get any advice about that, though!

Offroadr1: thanks It might well be bleach, but if it is, sounds like Virkon is a much better idea for a piece of gear that goes in the mouth than bleach would be. Ha.

---------- Post added November 28th, 2012 at 11:44 PM ----------

With 9.5 Bar of pressure coming from the 1st stage there is little chance of bugs finding their way back up as far as that! I assume the OP is referring to the second stage only. I use it for cleaning the loop and lungs of my rebreather having read that paper. I used to use Buddy Clean which, it turns out, is completely useless

Ah - we were writing at the same time! Yep. We are on the same page.

 

[Doppler]

Virkon would be really useful here. I have a link to a paper with a review of the various products and Virkon won hands down with only TriGeneII anywhere close.

http://www.therebreathersite.nl/04_Links/Downloads/disinfectant.pdf

I too would suggest Virkon (S). And also use it to disinfect rebreathers... it works remarkably well and does not compromise the integrity of soft components... WHICH MOUTHWASH WILL>>>>> DO NOT USE IT.

It seems that only the SECOND stage would need to be cleansed. A ten-minute soak in Virkon (S) solution then a rinse with fresh water. Some people have a slight reaction to the smell of Virkon (S) but it is the most popular disinfectant among the CCR divers I know... and I believe it will work nicely.

Good Diving!