Evaluation of the microbial safety of a new 1.5 l enteral feeding diet reservoir system

Background & aims: Microbial safety is essential during enteral nutrition (EN) as it can be the origin of gastrointestinal symptoms, but can also lead to systemic infections. The use of large-volume diet reservoirs could limit the risk of contamination and reduce nursing time, due to fewer repeated manipulations. The aim of the study was to evaluate in vivo the microbial safety of a new 1.5 l enteral feeding diet reservoir system. Methods: After validation of the study settings under standard laboratory conditions, 86 EN lines with sealed fittings were connected to 1.5 l diet reservoirs under hospital/patient conditions. Microbial identification and quantification at different sampling times and points were performed. Results and conclusions: No microbial contamination was observed in the diet reservoirs and in the nutrition lines above the drip chamber, demonstrating the microbial safety of this system. Retrograde contamination of the distal nutrition line end at completion of EN was observed and may be affected by the cumulative time of use of the tube. The contaminating microbial species were essentially bacteria of normal oral and digestive flora.