Enteral Feeding
Essential steps to safe, clean care
Enteral feeding
Reducing healthcare-associated infections in Primary care trusts; Mental health trusts; Learning disability organisations; Independent healthcare; Care homes; Hospices; GP practices and Ambulance services.
Aim
To reduce the risk of infection associated with enteral feeding
Risk elements
• Preparation and storage of feeds • Administration of feeds • Care of insertion site and enteral feeding tube • Preventing the spread of infection
Context
Enteral feeding means using the gastrointestinal tract for the delivery of nutrients, which includes eating food, consuming oral supplements and all types of tube feeding. This method of feeding has resulted in a range of different routes and systems for delivery of nutrition, and more patients are now being fed by home enteral feeding tubes in the community setting. The need for education and training in infection prevention and control is vital for the provision of the clean and safe care of all enteral feeding systems. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence found that 30% of feeds were contaminated with a variety of microorganisms, largely due to the poor preparation or poor administration of feeds, (NICE 2003). The research found that the rates of contamination were highest in home settings and thus reinforces the need to focus on infection prevention and control practices within the community setting. These should be read in conjunction with Essential steps to safe, clean care: Preventing the spread of infection.
Risk elements and safety actions
The risk elements of the care process listed below are based on the NICE guidelines (NICE, 2003) The risk elements form the basis of reducing the risk of infection, and the safety action points indicate how the risk elements should be carried out. The list of elements and safety action points are not meant to replace existing guidelines but to act as a simple method for improving the reliability
Enteral feeding
Reducing healthcare-associated infections in Primary care trusts; Mental health trusts; Learning disability organisations; Independent healthcare; Care homes; Hospices; GP practices and Ambulance services.
Aim
To reduce the risk of infection associated with enteral feeding
Risk elements
• Preparation and storage of feeds • Administration of feeds • Care of insertion site and enteral feeding tube • Preventing the spread of infection
Context
Enteral feeding means using the gastrointestinal tract for the delivery of nutrients, which includes eating food, consuming oral supplements and all types of tube feeding. This method of feeding has resulted in a range of different routes and systems for delivery of nutrition, and more patients are now being fed by home enteral feeding tubes in the community setting. The need for education and training in infection prevention and control is vital for the provision of the clean and safe care of all enteral feeding systems. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence found that 30% of feeds were contaminated with a variety of microorganisms, largely due to the poor preparation or poor administration of feeds, (NICE 2003). The research found that the rates of contamination were highest in home settings and thus reinforces the need to focus on infection prevention and control practices within the community setting. These should be read in conjunction with Essential steps to safe, clean care: Preventing the spread of infection.
Risk elements and safety actions
The risk elements of the care process listed below are based on the NICE guidelines (NICE, 2003) The risk elements form the basis of reducing the risk of infection, and the safety action points indicate how the risk elements should be carried out. The list of elements and safety action points are not meant to replace existing guidelines but to act as a simple method for improving the reliability