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Making The Nasal Wash Solution: A New Update
February, 2012
Due to reported serious infections and two patient deaths in Louisiana, National Jewish Health is recommending that tap water is no longer used for performing nasal washes or sinus rinses.
The recommendation is based on a recent alert from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and an update of their recommended practices regarding this procedure.
The change in recommendation was based on a report of two recent cases of brain abscesses linked to nasal/sinus washes.
The chlorinated tap water contamination with an amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, resulted in deaths of both patients infected through the use of the procedure.
Earlier cases were linked to fresh water sports activities such as swimming especially in warm climates. These two cases are the first that were linked to nasal washes.
The CDC has now recommended that tap water never be used for the procedure unless treated as outlined below.
Do not use tap water for the nasal wash (unless boiled or filtered as described below). Do not use well-water.
You may use:
Distilled water,
Sterilized water,
Tap water that has been boiled for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 ft., boil for 3 minutes) and cooled or
Tap water that is filtered using a filter with an absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller.
Please talk with your health care provider if you have any questions or concerns about this recent change.
This information has been approved by Christopher A. Czaja, MD, MPH (February 2012).
http://www.nationaljewish.org/healthinfo/medications/lung-diseases/alternative/nasal-wash-update/
I thought this was important for anyone who had not heard this up date about Nasal Wash Solutions.
Easy breathing to all of you,
Love
Holly
February, 2012
Due to reported serious infections and two patient deaths in Louisiana, National Jewish Health is recommending that tap water is no longer used for performing nasal washes or sinus rinses.
The recommendation is based on a recent alert from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and an update of their recommended practices regarding this procedure.
The change in recommendation was based on a report of two recent cases of brain abscesses linked to nasal/sinus washes.
The chlorinated tap water contamination with an amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, resulted in deaths of both patients infected through the use of the procedure.
Earlier cases were linked to fresh water sports activities such as swimming especially in warm climates. These two cases are the first that were linked to nasal washes.
The CDC has now recommended that tap water never be used for the procedure unless treated as outlined below.
Do not use tap water for the nasal wash (unless boiled or filtered as described below). Do not use well-water.
You may use:
Distilled water,
Sterilized water,
Tap water that has been boiled for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 ft., boil for 3 minutes) and cooled or
Tap water that is filtered using a filter with an absolute pore size of 1 micron or smaller.
Please talk with your health care provider if you have any questions or concerns about this recent change.
This information has been approved by Christopher A. Czaja, MD, MPH (February 2012).
http://www.nationaljewish.org/healthinfo/medications/lung-diseases/alternative/nasal-wash-update/
I thought this was important for anyone who had not heard this up date about Nasal Wash Solutions.
Easy breathing to all of you,
Love
Holly
I personally am only using store bought Saline nasal sprays now, its easier for me.
Love
Holly
I was just at my ENT doctor today, and he much prefers the saline sprays, such as Ayr or Ocean. He told me that he would prefer it if I used those instead of a neti pot. I'll bet he's read the same articles.
Hugs, Sue
The Ocean spray is very good I find, and the bottle does several different thing for you that I find helpful.
Upright delivers a spray
Horizontally a stream
Upside down a drop
I don't know for sure but I think the Ayr bottle may do the same thing.
Just thought you might want to know.
Thanks for your responses Serenity, Sue and Ohana.
Easy breathing to you all,
Love
Holly
I rinse the bottle after each use and clean the nozzle part with warm soapy water with a little vinegar mixed in. If the bottle is maintained carefully you just buy the saline refill packets at the drugstore.
I have seen the warnings about not mixing ordinary salt to use as a nasal wash. Never occured to me but I bet it would really burn the nasal passages. :)
Early spring weather is bringing on the seasonal allergens so good time for this topic. Thanks Holly
I think the drug store sealed saline nasal sprays are safest, they are good for nasal congestion of any kind, sinuses, colds and allergy such as hayfever.
Breathe easy all.
Hugs
Peta x
Thanks Holly.
Hugs, Sue