Distilled Water is not Sterile Water

People often think that distilled water is sterile. However, according to Dr. Joseph Falkinham, a microbiologist and NTM expert from Virginia Tech, this is not the case because the distillation equipment is not sterile.


Only when it undergoes further sterilization would it be considered sterile.


So, if you are using distilled water for nasal washes, to sterilize airway clearance equipment, or to fill up a humidifier, know that distilled water could still have microbes, spores and other pathogens.


For a person with healthy lungs, using distilled water versus sterile water probably is not a concern and will not make a difference to their health.
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But for those of us who have as my UK friends like to call them ”dodgy lungs,” introducing bugs directly into our nose and lungs is not advisable. This comes from someone who spent 3 years fighting a MAC infection and very much wants to stay infection-free!!!😩🫁
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