The effect of handling procedures on bacterial contamination of enteral feeds—importance of design of enteral feeding sets

The level of bacterial contamination introduced into two enteral feed delivery systems with different types of air inlet was compared when the air inlets were touched with bare hands, hands protected by sterile gloves and hands experimentally contaminated with bacteria. Feed and surface samples from the set with a flutter valve air inlet which had a smaller surface area for contact were less contaminated than those from the set with long airway tube. This indicates that the design of the system does have an effect on the level of contamination introduced into feeds during the assembly of feeding sets and the delivery of enteral feed,