Production of enteral feeds : manual vs mechanised vs 'ready to hang'

Date
2003-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION Many patients seen by dietitians in Tygerberg Academic Hospital require feeding via the enteral route. Prior to this study all enteral feeds were mixed individually by hand, and production was time consuming and very labour intensive. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to compare the current method of production, with mechanised bulk production (MP) and "Ready to hang" (RTH) products, taking time, safety and cost effectiveness into consideration. MATERIALS AND METHODS A machine was designed and built to produce and decant bulk volumes of enteral feed. Production methods were evaluated and data was obtained regarding the time taken to produce a feed, and the true cost of the feeds produced. Microbiological samples were collected and the safety of all the three systems was determined and compared. RESULTS MP production time was significantly longer than hand production (HP), but MP decanting was significantly more accurate. RTH feeds cost 152% more than HP feeds, and MP feeds cost 95% of HP feeds. Seventy-one per cent of HP feeds, 74% of MP feeds and 34% of RTH feeds were contaminated just after administration had began. CONCLUSIONS Mechanisation is less labour intensive than HP and helps to decrease total costs. RTH feeds quickly become contaminated after administration decreasing their other advantages.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: IN L E ID IN G Baie van die pasiente wat deur dieetkundiges in Tygerberg hospitaal gesien word, benodig buisvoedings. Vo or hierdie studie geloots was, was alle buisvoedings by Tygerberg hospitaal met die hand gemaak. Hierdie metode is baie tydsaam en arbeidsintensief. Die doel van hierdie studie was, om die voorlopige sisteem van produksie te vergelyk met gemeganiseerde grootmaat produksie en "ready to hang" (RTH). Die studie het die volgende in ag geneenv produksietyd, mikrobiologiese veiligheid en koste effektieweteit. METODE 'n Masjien was ontwerp en gebou om grootmaat buisvoedings aan te maak en aftegiet. Produksie metodes was geevalueer en inligting bymekaar gemaak met betrekking tot produksietyd, en die ware koste van die voedings. Mikrobiologiese monsters was versamel en die mikrobiologiese veiligheid van al drie sisteme is bepaal en vergelyk. RESULTATE Produksie met die masjien was betekenisvol longer as die voedings wat met die hand gemaak was, maar die masjien het betekenisvol meer akkuraat afgemeet met afgiet. RTH voedings se koste beloop 152% meer as voedings wat met die hand gemaak word, en voedings wat deur die masjien gemaak word kos 95% van die wat met die hand gemaak is. Een en sewentig persent van die voedings wat met die hand gemaak was, 74% van die masjiengemaakte voedings en 34% van die RTH voedings was besmet net na toediening begin was. GEVOLGTREKKINGS Meganisasie is minder arbeidsintensief as voedings wat met die hand gemaak is en help om die kostes af te bring. RTH voedings word vinnig besmet met organismes na die begin van toediening en dit verminder hulle ander voordele.
Description
Thesis (Mnutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2003.
Keywords
Enteral feeding -- Equipment and supplies, Critically ill -- Nutrition
Citation