The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that only boiled and cooled or distilled water be used for nasal irrigation. This ensures that no amebae are present in the water. If this is unavailable and nasal irrigation must be performed, the next best option is the use of an NSF 53 filter to filter out amebae. The least preferable option is to treat water with bleach according to the CDC guidelines. Long-term nasal irrigation can actually hinder the body’s natural primary defense mechanism by washing away protective mucus in the nasal passages, but this is less essential information than how to prevent primary amebic meningoencephalopathy.