[Enteral feeding set replacement as a key factor in preventing infectious complications].

To know variables facilitating bacterial growth is critical and essential for nursing staff because of high risk of infectious complications associated with enteral nutrition. In this matter the frequency of delivery set changes has a great influence. The analysis of 6 papers showed a high ratio of bacterial growth to unacceptable levels in the sets after the first 24 hours. They observed that enteral tube became a reservoir and suggested that the endogenous mechanism plays an important role in the contamination of the hole set. Finally it concluded that delivery set must be replaced every 24 hours empirically The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) recommend the establishment of quality control processes to screen bacterial contamination levels in the administration of enteral feedings for health care institutions.