Pseudomonas and wind instruments

Question

My daughter would like to learn one of the following instruments: flute (German flute), saxophone, clarinet, horn, trumpet. We are worried that a water bug (Pseudomonas) could colonize the instrument since these instruments cannot be cleaned very well. Is one of the instruments more suitable than another against this background? Are there further aspects that should be considered when choosing an instrument?

Answer

Dear questioner,

Unfortunately I cannot give you a well-founded professional answer to this question as there is no data available that I could refer to. According to my opinion the risk that an instrument (flute/wind instrument) is e.g. contaminated with P. aeruginosa and secondarily an infection is the result is pretty small.

Consideration: Generally, the instrument is not in contact with liquids. Thus, it is not clear to me how a contamination should happen at all (unless via the wind player's "aerosol-containing" exhalation air for which reason the instrument should only be used by your daughter).
What is more problematic in my opinion concerning an infection is the possibility that germ-containing aerosols from the environment are inhaled. Using the example of lung tuberculosis, it was shown that - if a co-player is diseased - the transmission of pathogens among the members of a band is very effective, obviously because of the intensified breathing technique.
Transferred to your request this would require at first that P.-aeruginosa-containing aerosols (source) are existent. As in CF it is unclear in most of the cases where the original source for an infection with P. aeruginosa is, it is hardly possible to classify certain activities as "risky" when there is no obvious contact to humid areas. I am not able to give you classification of a particular instrument in this context (in case of tuberculosis particularly the wind players were affected!).

Best regards,
Michael Hogardt

04.02.2013

4.2.13 We had former quesitons on this topic (links: ecorn-cf.eu/index.php?id=65&L=1&tx_expertadvice_pi1%5Bshowitem%5D=1515&tx_expertadvice_pi1%5Bsearch%5D=instrument; ecorn-cf.eu/index.php?id=65&L=1&tx_expertadvice_pi1%5Bshowitem%5D=864&tx_expertadvice_pi1%5Bsearch%5D=instrument)

Here I would like to cite them partly to help finding the right instrument:
"It is recommendable for children with CF to play an instrument. Playing wind instruments can train the respiratory muscles and, as is known, also support a child’s physical and psychological development. Depending on the instrument, different pressures are generated in the respiratory tracts; therefore one has to keep in mind a potential existing hyperinflation of the lungs. You should therefore know whether your child has areas of hyperinflation that are visible in the imaging; if so, wind instruments with less resistance that require lower air pressure and are easier to blow would be more suitable, as you rightly suspect in your question. One such instrument is the tuba; the clarinet, oboe and trumpet are harder to blow. A music school can provide competent information on this and help you choose an instrument that is easy to blow. To check your son’s lungs for hyperinflation, please contact your treating CF facility.
Dr. Helmut Ellemunter"
D. d'Alquen