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Contamination of parenteral nutrition solutions not a hazard with additions made at ward level

F Breheny1, D McGechie, M Toohey

  • 1Department of Intensive Care, Fremantle Hospital, Western Australia.

Anaesthesia and Intensive Care
|November 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Adding medications to pre-mixed parenteral nutrition solutions at the ward level is safe. Microbiological analysis found no organism growth in either the study or control groups, indicating no increased infection risk.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Pharmacy
  • Microbiology
  • Parenteral Nutrition

Background:

  • Parenteral nutrition (PN) solutions are critical for patients unable to receive nutrition orally.
  • Additions to pre-mixed PN solutions are often made at the ward level by healthcare professionals.
  • Concerns exist regarding the microbiological safety of these on-ward manipulations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the microbiological safety of preparing parenteral nutrition by adding components at the ward level.
  • To determine if on-ward manipulation of pre-mixed PN solutions increases the risk of microbial contamination.

Main Methods:

  • A study group and a control group of pre-mixed amino acid and dextrose parenteral nutrition solutions were established.
  • Samples were collected at six hours and at the end of the infusion period.
  • Microbiological analysis was performed to detect the growth of microorganisms in all samples.

Main Results:

  • No microorganisms were isolated from any samples in either the study group or the control group.
  • The microbiological analysis did not reveal any significant difference between the groups.

Conclusions:

  • Making additions to pre-mixed amino acid/dextrose parenteral nutrition solutions at the ward level does not introduce a microbiological hazard.
  • Current ward-level practices for manipulating PN solutions appear to be microbiologically safe for patients.

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