Respirators and fungal infections, I really need some help here!

kenhills

kenhills

Joined
Dec 17, 2007
Messages
984
Hi All,

I'm looking for some help here. I am Bladesmith here on this forum and have been active for a few years. Now here is the issue I am having. When I started grinding knives I asked around the forum about respirators got some good information and wound up with a Norton half mask and the proper particulate filters. About 3 months ago I developed a sinus infection which later became an upper respiratory infection. OK so off to the doctor and a course of antibiotics. Cough sinus and lungs clear up only to start up again a week or so after I am finished with the medicine. Back to the doctor now stronger antibiotics and a steroid as well. Everything clears up only to reappear again a week after the meds are finished.

OK now I go and see the doctor who I used to see years ago cause the new doctors don't seem to be getting it. I tell him this story he says open up, he looks at my tongue an says I have a fungal infection. What the f@#k how do you get a fungal infection. (don't say it) . Here is where the mask comes in. I live in south Florida and work in my garage, no AC. Florida this time of the year is hot a sticky. I change the filters every month or so and wash out the mask daily. Today I popped the nose piece off and found that there was "dirt" between the nose piece flap and the mask. Now ...is it possible that the infection is being caused and re caused by the mask? Not looking for a medical opinion just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this. If so how did you fix the problem. I put the filters in the microwave now so anything in them is being killed but I am hesitant to put the mask in it. So if you have any ideas I would love to hear them.

Thanks, Ken
 
Yes, it can be caused by the mask. Also antibiotics wont get rid of a fungal infection.

Put AC in the garage and completely disinfect the mask, or maybe a new mask.
 
get a PAPR mask like the Trend Airshield so fresh air gets forced in, used air exhausts naturally out the bottom

-Page
 
Fungi can look like black dust


The high humidity is key to fungo growth.
My shop has poor venting, the machines sweat and the walls grow black mould too.


I disassemble it to clean and leave it to fully dry it.

A bit of microwave time may not do it.

Then store it with airflow, maybe inside the house.


I used to take my mask off and store it in a plastic bag to keep it clean, but the breath moisture was trapped in the bag and would start to mildew.
I keep mine in a cloth cotton bag now once it's dry.
 
There are fungicides that can be purchased that you can dip the mask body in, and just make sure to change filters quite regularly. I think that would be the surest bet. Do it every day I'd say. Another option is storing your mask in a bucket of dessicant, you can buy the color-indicating type in large quantities for a somewhat reasonable price, and it's "rechargeable".

Alternately, you could move into the so-cal high desert (think death valley, it's our neighbor), and NOTHING can grow here. It's dry as a bone. My brother lives out in Florida and we have kind of a west coast vs. east coast thing going on with each other. Of course, I've personally seen it hit 130 in the shade here (even though the official weather folks claim we only hit 120).
 
Most mask are made to dispose of ever so often.How much did it cost?I use dishwashing liqiud to clean and after I dry it , I wipe it down good with alcohol.I use one everyday at work and replace it 2 or 3 times a year.
Eddie
 
Thanks folks I knew the community would be able to help. Cost is a factor so I will have to do what we can with a limited budget. I dont think I will ever get rich doing this, but thats not really the point anyway. I will digest all this and post my decision in the next day or two. PLEASE rip it apart if something does not sound right.

Thanks again, Ken
 
Don Hanson III said:
Put AC in the garage . . . .
Click to expand...

This made a world of difference for me. Last summer it felt like I was suffocating/drowning in my respirator due to the high humidity and sweat. Being immune suppressed, I'm always worried about picking up pathogens like Ken experienced.

So last fall I found a HF dust collector on Craigslist, put a Wynn Environmental .5-micron filter on it, and fabricated a spark arrestor so I could use it when grinding both handle material and steel. Then in the spring I ordered a 12,000 BTU window AC and had my carpenter install it in my garage/shop.

Huge increase in productivity over last summer, steel and tools rust less, sandpaper doesn't curl up, and I no longer feel like I'm suffocating in my respirator!!
 
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I am a mold remediator, I did mold remediation in south Florida from Jupiter to Miami , I had a lot of sinus infections from mold. I use a Neti pot regularly, this will wash away any foreign substances from your sinuses. Use warm water with himalayan sea salt, that is meant for a neti pot, don't use table salt, run this threw each sinus and blow your nose after each time, it helps me.

As for your mask, you can use 1 part bleach to 10 parts water, clean the whole thing with this and wipe down with clean rags, you can repeat the process. That's the inexpensive way. They sell mold products at home depot and lowes but it's pricey, I use a product call Microban, it's. Viracide, fungicide, mildacide, bactericide , antimicrobial disinfectant .
The bleach will work too. Let me know if I can be of any further help.

Oh yeh, after you use the bleach use some kind of friendly soap on the mask and rinse it out good and dry
Bring your respirator into your home, much less chance of getting mold if the temp, is below 78 degrees, without the humidity
 
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Guessing it is actually thrush and not something like aspergilliosis or your doctor would be treating you with some super hardcore stuff. The fact that you just got off antibiotics is what is causing it. All the bacteria that are usually there maintain a balance but they were all killed off and now the yeast is going nuts. It will resolve its self shortly unless you have underlaying factors like a weak immune system or diabetes. Doctor really should have explained all this to you.

If you feel like disinfecting stuff anyway but don't want to use bleach, hydrogen peroxide either used straight (3%) as sold or diluted down to 1% will kill everything too.

-Sandow
 
The respirator can certainly harbor pathogens and re-infect you.

When you use a half-mask respirator in an industrial setting, you are supposed to disinfect it daily (and that means break it down fully and clean everything), and then store it in a clean airtight bag or container without the filter cartridges. You could probably put some desiccant in the bag or container as well to help keep it dry. What you use to clean your respirator matters, some chemicals may break down the plastic body or valve materials. Check with the manufacturer. Filter cartridges have a rated life too, they are usually changed every 4-12 hours of use, but it depends on the type of cartridge and how much crap is in the air...so a month is more than pushing it, especially if you use it daily. And the humid Florida air will support mold in a filter cartridge. Yes new filter cartridges are not cheap, but neither are doctor visits, and being sick is no fun. BTW Microwaving will not necessarily kill pathogens, especially ones with little or no water in their structure.
 
Walmart. $120. Window air conditioner. They even have remotes, now!
 
Hi All,

Jeeze what a week I don't think I have felt that sick in a real long time if ever. The second Dr. I think got it right with the anti fungal meds. I'm not coughing non stop any more and I have some energy back. I really want to thank every body for their suggestions and support. I always believed that there were people who wanted to help for the sake of helping with no expectation of any return. Nice to meet you all.

Here is what I am doing so not to go through this again
1. I got a free standing Air conditioner from a neighbor which I will have hooked up by Monday. All I need to do is bring the temp down to 85 and dry out the air and I'm fine.
2. Change the filters more often in the Norton half mask.
3. Disassemble the mask daily and rinse in peroxide paying special attention to the diaphragms.

Again thank you all for your help and suggestions. Tomorrow off to a gun and knife show with a smile on.

Again thanks,

Ken
 
kenhills said:
Hi All,

Jeeze what a week I don't think I have felt that sick in a real long time if ever. The second Dr. I think got it right with the anti fungal meds. I'm not coughing non stop any more and I have some energy back. I really want to thank every body for their suggestions and support. I always believed that there were people who wanted to help for the sake of helping with no expectation of any return. Nice to meet you all.

Here is what I am doing so not to go through this again
1. I got a free standing Air conditioner from a neighbor which I will have hooked up by Monday. All I need to do is bring the temp down to 85 and dry out the air and I'm fine.
2. Change the filters more often in the Norton half mask.
3. Disassemble the mask daily and rinse in peroxide paying special attention to the diaphragms.

Again thank you all for your help and suggestions. Tomorrow off to a gun and knife show with a smile on.

Again thanks,

Ken
Click to expand...

Peroxide is not that effective.
Leaving it on to dry may oxidize your flapper valves and have them go brittle.


These are the published cleaning instructions by 3M
http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?6666660Zjcf6lVs6EVs666AHLCOrrrrQ-


Clean with mild dish soap,
Disinfect - Bleach is the go to - see the dilution they give.
Rinse
air dry

If you have any access to a food dehydrator, that's a great dryer,
lots of warm airflow.


Cleaning
Caution
: Cleaning with solvents may degrade some respirator components and reduce respirator
effectiveness. Inspect all respirator components before each use to ensure proper operating conditions.
Cleaning is recommended after each use
1. Remove cartridges and/or filters.
2. Clean facepiece (excluding filters and cartridges), with 3M™ 504 Respirator Wipes (not to be used as
the only method of cleaning) or by immersing in warm cleaning solution, water temperature not to
exceed 120 ̊ F, and scrub with soft brush until clean. Add neutral detergent if necessary. Do not use
cleaners containing lanolin or other oils.
3. Disinfect facepiece by soaking in a solution of ... sodium
hypochloride (1 oz. [30 ML] household bleach in 2 gallons [7.5 L] of water), or other disinfectant.
4. Rinse in fresh, warm water and air dry in non-contaminated atmosphere.
5. The cleaned respirator should be stored away from contaminated areas when not in use
Click to expand...
 
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Understood on the Household bleach did take that into consideration was actually more concerned with degrading the diaphragms.
Any body got the Noton Customer service Number? I cant seem to find it.
If they say its a go then bleach it is.

Thanks Ken
 
Peroxide will kill anything that bleach will kill. There are things that have waxy coatings and are less effected by aqueous disinfectants so neither is great at killing them, but they are in the minority as far as fungal spores go. Puff ball spores and rain dispersed stuff are pretty much it.

If you are super paranoid, 70 EtOH and 1% HOOH will literally kill anything at that scale. The combo shreds membranes and DNA. We use it for cleaning our sterile hoods and for spills around the lab.

The bleach concentration they recommend is potentially as low as .0002% which is both lower than is likely effective and still more than I want to have to breathe.

-Sandow
 
Thanks for clarifying that. The bleach kinda rubs me the wrong way. I have to leave the house when my wife uses it. So if I can get aroung all the better.
 
Have you looked on line at respirator cleaning kits? Alcohol wipes are what I see used a lot for daily maintenance. Just went through respirator training and fit testing with an industrial hygienist at a new job. We are issued a mask which is to be cleaned daily, and returned for processing at the end of the week. Masks are disassembled, and put through a sort of washing machine, dried , reassembled, repackaged. OSHA standards require respirators be stored in bags when not in use to prevent contamination.
from dust etc.
 
look believe it or not it has absolutely nothing to do with your mask. what you are experiencing is our future. with antibiotics being over prescribed and always misused we are seeing what we affectionately call the super bugs. the fungal infection you have in your mouth (thrush) is also do to be on to many antibiotics for to long of time. the biotcs killed off all of your natural flora in your mouth that would have normally protected you from the yeast. If you want to know more pm me warning I can go on and on on this subject.
 
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