Enteral feeding solutions contain an alkyl paraben to inhibit growth of micro-organisms in the enteral tube

摘要

Compositions that may be taken to prolong the useful life of a enteral feeding tube containing a complete nutritional solution and a 1-10C alkyl paraben (0.05-1.0 wt.%). - ACTIVITY : Antimicrobial; gastrointestinal-gen. A commercial sterile nutrient solution Isosource(RTM) was used as a culture medium for various micro-organisms, with and without 0.1% or methyl or propyl paraben. At 35 [deg]C, the growth of Staphylococcus aureus was slightly less in the presence of paraben but there was no inhibition after 48 hours. Enterobacter cloacae was inhibited by methyl paraben at 35 [deg]C, there being a difference of 0.5 logarithmic unit after 48 hours. Lactobacillus leichmanii was inhibited by both parabens after 48 hours at ambient temperature, and at 35 [deg]C 3-5 logarithmic units less than the controls. Aspergillus niger could not be recovered at all after inoculation into a medium the parabens. Candida albicans was inhibited by propyl paraben and after 7 days showed a logarithmic cycle 2-3 UFC/ml less than the controls, though this difference was less than 2 units after 14 days. - MECHANISM OF ACTION : The presence of the paraben hinders the colonization by micro-organisms in the tube, which lead to blockages and degradation of materials, and so shorten the useful life of the tube.