DIETS AND INFECTION - COMPOSITION AND CONSEQUENCES

This brief review focuses on the effects of nutrient composition of en teral diets on the outcome of surgical patients and experimental model s of infection. Complete enteral diets containing combinations of immu nonutrients (arginine, glutamine, RNA, omega-3 fatty acids), when give n postoperatively or after trauma to surgical patients, can reduce hos pital stay, overall costs, and the incidence of wound complications an d acquired infections. Immunonutrient diets can also reduce the length of hospital stay when given to patients admitted to the surgical inte nsive care unit. A high protein diet is usually required for optimal b enefit, although administration of high protein immunoenhancing diets may have adverse effects in animals with severe untreated peritonitis because of a sustained overproduction of cytokines.