Microbial contamination of enteral feed administration sets in a pediatric institution.
BACKGROUND
Enteral feeding tubes have been associated with outbreaks of antimicrobial-resistant organisms, but the pathogenesis of this association has not been investigated. We hypothesized that the enteral feed administration sets become colonized externally by microbes grown from the enteral tube hub, and therefore serve as a reservoir of organisms that can be crosstransmitted.


METHODS
We conducted a prospective observational cohort pilot study, obtaining bacterial cultures from the external enteral feed administration set and from the hub of nasogastric, gastric, or gastrojejunal tubes in children receiving enteral feeding while hospitalized in a tertiary care pediatric hospital.


RESULTS
Thirty-six of 37 hubs cultured had bacterial growth. Twenty-nine of 36 administration sets (78%) sampled had at least 1 microbe isolated that was also cultured from the hub. No significant risk factors for colonization were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
Enteral feed administration sets are frequently colonized by organisms in the enteral tube hub. These sets can serve as a reservoir of organisms that can be crosstransmitted between patients. Adherence to Standard Precautions is critical when handling enteral feeding apparatuses.
Matlow
Anne
A
Division of Infectious Diseases, The Hospital For Sick Childre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Wray
Rick
R
Goldman
Carol
C
Streitenberger
Laurie
L
Freeman
Renee
R
Kovach
Danuta
D
D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies