Microbiological safety in the reuse of materials in home enteral nutrition: A quantitative in vitro experimental...

In home enteral nutrition (HEN), the reuse of packaging and administration materials beyond the recommended period, combined with inadequate hygiene practice, increase the risk of microbiological contamination. This study assessed the risk through a simulation that reproduced real-world usage conditions and hygiene practices adopted in the home environment.

A quantitative experimental study evaluated bottles, feeding sets, and bags applied to 3 categories of HEN: enteral preparation with food (EPF); mixed enteral preparation (MEP), and commercial powdered enteral formula (CEF). Over 3 days, 4 hygiene practices were tested: water (WAT); detergent (DET); detergent + boiling water (DET + BW); detergent + chlorine sanitizing solution (DET + CS). Enteral formulas were prepared daily under safe conditions, and microbiological analyses were performed in triplicate before and after use.

Results suggest that reusing bottles and feeding sets for up to 3 days may be microbiologically safe with MEP or CEF when food safety are followed. With EPF, microbial growth increased from the 2nd day, especially under WAT. DET + CS performed best, ensuring safety for up to 3 days (bottles and feeding sets) and 2 days (feeding bags), which were more prone to contamination.

Reuse for up to 3 days may be microbiologically safe for bottles and feeding sets with MEP or CEF when food safety practices are followed, with DET + CS being the most effective method. In contrast, materials associated with EPF, especially feeding bags, show greater microbial growth from the 2nd day onward, requiring caution.