Microbiome profile informs cleansing and storage practices for reusable feeding tube stylets in critical care.
Annette M BourgaultChirajyoti DebLillian AguirreRui XieKimberly Paige RathbunMary Lou SolePublished in: Nutrition in clinical practice : official publication of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (2022)
The abundance of several potentially opportunistic pathogens indicated plausible risk for gut contamination secondary to reinsertion of stylets into small-bore feeding tubes. Stylet cleansing with 70% isopropyl alcohol reduced bacterial burden on the stylets, although viability was unknown. Careful cleansing, handling, and storage protocols for reusable stylets are necessary to minimize contamination.