Ascending contamination of a jejunostomy feeding reservoir.

In general bacterial contamination of enteral feeding solutions is considered to be exogenous in origin. However, during feeding through catheter jejunostomy another source of contamination seems possible. We describe a patient in whom bacterial contamination of the feeding solution given through a catheter jejunostomy occurred frequently. Microbiological evaluation of several feeding samples showed that with this particular type of catheter enterostomy contamination was dual in origin. A not aseptic manipulation of the feed prior to administration led only to slight contamination. Most of the contamination however was endogenous--ie. ascending from the gut of the patient. In contrast to some previous studies, no clinical or laboratory deterioration could be observed in relation to the contamination. The food value of the feed expressed as the glucose concentration was significantly reduced after contamination with the causative organisms.