Homecare Cleansing of Nasal Cannula

SunnyAndrsn · Oct 2, 2009

Vinegar will not harm the plastic. Just make sure you really, really, really rinse it well or the smell will be irritating.

Hi,
I've been working homecare for a couple of years now. I have a client whose nasal cannula is visibly soiled but her equipment company won't replace it for another 2 months! I've tried getting in touch with them on how to clean it, but I'm put on hold... Does anyone know a safe and effective way to cleanse the inside of a nasal cannula? I'm thinking vinegar, but I don't want to do anything to harm the integrity of it (since we have to use it for 2 more months).

PAERRN20 · Oct 2, 2009

I think good ole soap and water would be fine. Also you can clean it with alcohol, just make sure it is rinsed very well.

scootertrash nurse · Oct 2, 2009

don't know a way to clean it but agree with above posters soap and water.

i got more to say about the nasal canula being one of the cheapest things you patient has probley no more that a dollar in bulk for the O2 company how chicken sh*t could the company be probley charges 20 to 100 $ to

medi care or medicad

dscrn · Oct 3, 2009

I would agree with vineger, rinse well. I have a portable mini-neb that is to be cleaned with vineger after each use...

kittykatty · Oct 3, 2009

Nasal cannulas are very very cheap--you can buy them on e-bay very cheap--use a fresh 1 once a month that's only 12 a year. If the company is supplying her O2 or a concentrator then they must give her fresh cannulas. Call them again and read them the riot act. You could always tell them to come pick up their equipment and go with another company for the O2.

Lacie, BSN, RN · Oct 3, 2009

Nasal cannulas are very very cheap--you can buy them on e-bay very cheap--use a fresh 1 once a month that's only 12 a year. If the company is supplying her O2 or a concentrator then they must give her fresh cannulas. Call them again and read them the riot act. You could always tell them to come pick up their equipment and go with another company for the O2.

I agree as washing even with soap/water you are still setting it up for bacteria. I dont care how well or how much you wash it bacteria will set up in time also mold spores. Remember it's warm and it's moist. We even change out my sons nebulizer tubing monthly due to this very reason and its supply by the company that provided his nebulizer. They should definitely be changed out monthly and that's the standard with any company I have dealt with that supplies concentrators. I would seriously question if they are refusing to replace it any sooner.

grandee3 · Oct 3, 2009

I would report them if you call and can't get a new one.

They are really setting themself up.

tewdles, RN · Oct 4, 2009

Sounds like this equipment company can bill for this every 3 months and so is not going to replace more often than that. The sad thing is this...probably thousands of these things are thrown away every week when patients die who have unopened supplies in their homes. Would a quick dip in some H2O2 help to loosen up the crud? If I am seeing this correctly in my minds eye the cannula end is a male adapter so it will be difficult to "flush" the system with any force (which would be helpful).