Bacterial contamination of enteral feeds as a possible risk of nosocomial infection.

The degree of microbiological contamination in enteral diets was studied and the possible infectious complications that could arise in the patient after administration of an enteral feed were evaluated. Of the 208 diets studied, 56 (26.9%) were contaminated and 152 (73.1%) were sterile. Of the 56 contaminated diets, 11 could be used as delivered, but the other 45 required further modification. Of the patients who had received enteral feeding, 43 developed gastrointestinal symptoms in the first 24 h (fever, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea). Twenty-nine (67.4%) had received a contaminated diet and 14 (32.6%) an uncontaminated one. We conclude that contamination of enteral feeds may constitute a risk factor for nosocomial infection, and consider it necessary to carry out epidemiological surveillance in order to control the factors which may lead to contamination of enteral diets.