What Are the Dangers of a Dirty CPAP?

Ultraviolet light showing a dirty CPAP machine

Introduction

A Dirty CPAP Machine can impact your health and you can combat this by cleaning. This article covers: risks of not cleaning a CPAP, Signs and Symptoms of a dirty CPAP machine that you should be looking out for, studies on infections and finally how you can clean your CPAP equipment to protect your health and the quality of your machine.

Can you get sick from not cleaning a CPAP machine?

Researchers have studied the occurrence of upper respiratory infections in people using CPAP. A study was done¹ to evaluate the presence of infections in people with OSA used CPAP compared to controls (people not using CPAP). Upper respiratory infections were common, but higher in patients using CPAP. People who did not clean their hot water bath humidifier had significantly more infections (57% vs. 20%) compared to patients who regularly cleaned their machines and tubing. This suggests that inadequately cleaned tubing in CPAP is a risk factor for infectious diseases.

Bacteria are everywhere in our environment. Most of the time, they do not cause harm. However, how you can tell when it can be harmful is if the wrong type of bacteria grows it can become pathogenic (ie, cause disease). Specifically, for CPAP users, researchers are looking at the risk of pneumonia, upper airway infections, sinus infections, and eye infections. In fact, researchers have been studying the potential of CPAP humidification and its effect on bacterial growth. In one study, researchers contaminated the humidifier water of 11 CPAP devices with bacteria ². They found bacteria in the breathing tube in 9 out of the 11, suggesting that the humidifier may be aerosolizing (spreading through the air and vapor) the bacteria to the tubes. CPAP is still very safe to use, but it is wise to be aware of the potential for bacteria to grow in an unclean system.

Some rare reports of CPAP related to eye infections have been published in medical journals³, but doctors cannot say for sure yet if CPAP truly raises the risk of eye infection.

Mold is also present in our environment, and it loves to grow in warm and damp places such as a CPAP machine. Mold can be harmful as it can irritate the airways and lungs, causing cough or even bronchitis or pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs). In addition, people with allergies often find their allergies or asthma exacerbated by mold. This can be avoided by keeping the CPAP clean and dry as much as possible.

CPAP and its link to infection has not been yet fully clinically studied, however these preliminary reports suggest bacterial infections may be more frequent in CPAP users and especially if the machine is not cleaned regularly.

If you frequently experience, congestion, runny nose, sore throat, skin irritation, or respiratory infections, a dirty CPAP may be contributing.

One of the most important tasks as a CPAP user, is to ensure the machine is clean. Dirty CPAP can be uncomfortable and lead to side effects such as mold or fungus growth, and risks of bacterial infections.

What are the Signs of a Dirty CPAP?

You keep getting sick: Bacteria are everywhere in our environment, but if the wrong kind of bacteria (pathogenic bacteria, ie causing disease) gets in the CPAP system, it may cause frequent sinus infections. Common symptoms of sinus infections include headaches, pressure in the sinuses (face, forehead), post-nasal drainage, productive cough, fevers. If you are having fevers, severe headaches, or vision problems you must seek healthcare immediately.
A foul smell: If the CPAP machine smells like mildew or has any other bad odor, there may be mold or bacteria in the equipment. Because mold and bacteria grow in damp and warm environments, CPAP machines can become a breeding ground for growth.
Your skin is irritated: If your skin around where the CPAP mask fits is irritated, it may be from a dirty CPAP machine. Alternatively, this could be a cause of a poorly fitting mask, for which you should speak to your provider to adjust the mask for comfort.

Keeping your CPAP Equipment Clean

While the CPAP machine itself is a sterile (clean) device when purchased, it can pick up bacteria and viruses from the skin or even from contact inside your home, increasing your chances of getting sick. For this reason, it's critical that you clean your CPAP equipment regularly. There are a few different ways to go about doing this, such as hand washing with soap and water, chemical cleaning or using CPAP wipes for on-the-go quick cleaning.

It's natural for there to be some moisture, especially if your CPAP mask has a heated humidifier – but too much moisture can be a breeding ground for mold, bacteria and viruses. With this in mind, it's important to keep your equipment as dry as possible when it's not in use – and to allow it to dry thoroughly if you wash it with soap and water.

FAQ	When to Replace	Why is this important?
What happens if you don't clean the Oral, Nasal, Nasal Pillow and Full Face Mask?	Every 3 months	Masks deteriorate over time, causing discomfort and leaks.
Should I clean the CPAP Humidifier?	Every 6 months	Mineral buildup can cause sinus irritation. Be sure to wash your humidifier chamber after every use with distilled water, and fully replace after 6 months.
How often should you clean your CPAP Machine?	Every 5 Years	Be sure to replace your CPAP Machine every 5 years to stay up to date on the most effective therapy options.
How often should you change the filter on your CPAP Machine?	Once a month	Disposable filters are meant to be replaced regularly so that fine particles can be trapped.

Our SoClean Summary:

Some studies have shown that infections are possible. You can minimize these risks by looking out for alarming and typical signs of a Dirty CPAP Machine. Be sure to change your CPAP equipment regularly for good health, optimum use and protection. Always follow the manufacturers instructions for cleaning your CPAP and parts.