Hand Hygiene Practices and Microbial Contamination on Feeding Tubes and Other Components of Feeding Systems

Enteral Feeding Tube (EFT) such as Nasogastric Tube (NGT), Duodenal/Jejunal Tube and Gastrostomy Tube are frequently used in Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, EFT is generally an omitted/neglected source of contamination. EFT can serve as a reservoir of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), which multiplies the risk of mortality by 2-2.5 times, for microorganism transmission. As a consequence of contamination of EFT, microorganisms, that may be manifest with the symptoms such as abdominal pain, distention, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, may reproduce and progress to bacteremia, septicemia and even to death. In some studies, it is observed that there is a relation between the contamination on the external surface of EFT and contamination on the entry of EFT (hub), and it is also reported that the rate of contamination on the hub of the EFT and the environment of the patient is quite high. ICU nurses are responsible for sustaining safe and secure feeding, medication and fluid replacement of patients. Also, they provide enteral feeding products to patients as they are prescribed. Personnel training, proper processing procedures and developed enteral feeding protocols are shown to decrease the incidence of bacterial contamination on the enteral feeding tube