Microbial Contamination of Enteral Feeding Sets Used in the Home of Pediatric Patients

Abstract

Bacterial contamination of enteral feeding sets has been well documented in studies of patients. Much of the literature on this subject validates problems with manipulations of the feeding sets such as mixing formula and handwashing by the caregiver. Rinsing and storing of the set could also have serious implications in the amount of contamination. There is currently no standard recommending the length of time for use of enteral feeding sets for home care patients, particularly in children. Nine homecare patients with ages ranging between 1 and 15 years participated in this study. Cultures of the formula in the feeding set were obtained at zero hours with a new set, and after 24 and 48 hours. The caregivers prepared and administered the formula in their usual manner. Clinical data were collected for 10–14 days before the samplings and for 7 days afterward. Data included weights before, during, and after the culture collection period. Medications, stools, and emesis were recorded during this timeframe. It is difficult to draw statistically significant conclusions based on the small sample size of this study. There was an undesirable level of contamination at 48 hours of enteral feeding set use that was not present at 24 hours in 2 of the patients (22.2%). Neither of these children had diarrhea, vomiting, or other clinical changes, but both showed a small weight loss. The majority of the patients (77.8%) demonstrated that using sets for 48 hours did not increase the amount of contamination.

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