Thick mucus : try irrigating with 1% baby shampoo in saline

[Guest guest]

Irrigating twice/day during 4 weeks with 1% baby shampoo in saline improved

thick mucus

symptoms in half of patients. It also prevents (but does not eradicate) biofilms

by

pseudomonas aeruginosa.

This was also discussed in the Google/sinusitis newsgroup a few weeks ago.

---------------

Baby shampoo nasal irrigations for the symptomatic post-functional endoscopic

sinus

surgery patient

Authors: Chiu, G.1; Palmer, N.1; Woodworth, Bradford A.1;

Doghramji,

Laurel1; Cohen, B.1; Prince, 1; Cohen, Noam A.1

Source: American Journal of Rhinology, Volume 22, Number 1, January-February

2008 ,

pp. 34-37(4)

Abstract:

Background: Symptoms of postnasal drainage and thickened mucus are commonly seen

in

patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) recalcitrant to sinus surgery and

conventional

medical therapies. Chemical surfactants can act as a mucolytic by reducing water

surface

tension and have the potential to serve as an antimicrobial agent. Baby shampoo

is an

inexpensive, commercially available solution containing multiple chemical

surfactants.

This is an in vitro study of its antimicrobial effects on Pseudomonas biofilms

with

translation to a clinical study for use as an adjuvant nasal wash in patients

with CRS who

remain symptomatic despite adequate sinus surgery and conventional medical

therapies.

Methods: In vitro testing was performed to determine the optimal concentration

of baby

shampoo that disrupted preformed bacterial biofilms and inhibited biofilm

formation.

This concentration was then used in a prospective study of symptomatic

post-functional

endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) patients who irrigated twice a day for 4 weeks.

Validated outcome forms and objective smell testing was performed before and

after

therapy.

Results: One percent baby shampoo in normal saline was the optimal concentration

for

inhibition of Pseudomonas biofilm formation. Baby shampoo had no effect on the

eradication of preformed Pseudomonas biofilms.

Eighteen patients with CRS with an average of 2.8 surgeries were studied after

irrigating

with 1% baby shampoo solution.

Two patients discontinued use because of minor nasal and skin irritations; 46.6%

of

patients experienced an overall improvement in their subjective symptoms, and

60% of

patients noted improvement in specific symptoms of thickened mucus and postnasal

drainage.

Conclusion: Baby shampoo nasal irrigation has promise as an inexpensive,

tolerable

adjuvant to conventional medical therapies for symptomatic patients after FESS.

Its

greatest benefit may be in improving symptoms of thickened nasal discharge and

postnasal drainage.

[Guest guest]

Exactly how much baby shampoo would you add to 8 oz. of saline? Janeasfyso <asfyso@...> wrote: Irrigating twice/day during 4 weeks with 1% baby shampoo in saline improved thick mucus symptoms in half of patients. It also prevents (but does not eradicate) biofilms by pseudomonas aeruginosa.This was also discussed in the Google/sinusitis newsgroup a few weeks ago.---------------Baby shampoo nasal irrigations for the symptomatic post-functional endoscopic sinus surgery

patientAuthors: Chiu, G.1; Palmer, N.1; Woodworth, Bradford A.1; Doghramji, Laurel1; Cohen, B.1; Prince, 1; Cohen, Noam A.1Source: American Journal of Rhinology, Volume 22, Number 1, January-February 2008 , pp. 34-37(4)Abstract:Background: Symptoms of postnasal drainage and thickened mucus are commonly seen in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) recalcitrant to sinus surgery and conventional medical therapies. Chemical surfactants can act as a mucolytic by reducing water surface tension and have the potential to serve as an antimicrobial agent. Baby shampoo is an inexpensive, commercially available solution containing multiple chemical surfactants. This is an in vitro study of its antimicrobial effects on Pseudomonas biofilms with translation to a clinical study for use as an adjuvant nasal wash in patients with CRS who remain symptomatic despite adequate sinus surgery

and conventional medical therapies.Methods: In vitro testing was performed to determine the optimal concentration of baby shampoo that disrupted preformed bacterial biofilms and inhibited biofilm formation.This concentration was then used in a prospective study of symptomatic post-functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) patients who irrigated twice a day for 4 weeks.Validated outcome forms and objective smell testing was performed before and after therapy.Results: One percent baby shampoo in normal saline was the optimal concentration for inhibition of Pseudomonas biofilm formation. Baby shampoo had no effect on the eradication of preformed Pseudomonas biofilms.Eighteen patients with CRS with an average of 2.8 surgeries were studied after irrigating with 1% baby shampoo solution.Two patients discontinued use because of minor nasal and skin irritations; 46.6% of patients experienced an overall

improvement in their subjective symptoms, and 60% of patients noted improvement in specific symptoms of thickened mucus and postnasal drainage.Conclusion: Baby shampoo nasal irrigation has promise as an inexpensive, tolerable adjuvant to conventional medical therapies for symptomatic patients after FESS. Its greatest benefit may be in improving symptoms of thickened nasal discharge and postnasal drainage.

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