BACTERIAL-CONTAMINATION OF ENTERAL FEEDS

Enteral nutrition is increasingly used to provide nutritional support for children in hospital and at home. No suitable formula is available for preschool children, however, and until recently a modular feed ha s been prepared. The hypotheses were examined that the use of a modula r feed is associated with increased bacterial contamination, and that contamination is more common in the home than in hospital. Thirty five children receiving enteral nutrition initially in hospital and subseq uently at home were allocated randomly to receive either a modular fee d or a newly available sterile ready to use paediatric feed. Samples o f feed were taken from the nutrient container immediately after fillin g and at the end of feeding. The results show that feed contamination is common in hospital and at home, but significantly more so at home. The data indicate the importance of hygiene training for parents and t he desirability of a ready to use formula.