Incidence of Diarrhea in Hospitalized Patients with Standard Enteral Formula

Malnutrition is common in intensive care unit, occurring in (30% to 50%) of hospitalized patients. To prevent malnutrition, nutritionists recommend industrials formula for patients who cannot eat but with functional gastrointestinal track, But due to verbal nurse`s reports standard enteral formula is inducing diarrhea. In this study our purpose is to evaluate the incidence of diarrhea in hospitalized patients with standard Enteral Nutrition (EN) formula intake. 13 patients participated in our study. We used Milatech brand as entral formula. Formula administration was depended 200 or 250 cc every two or three hours a day in dependent to patients needs and tolerance. Gastro Intestinal (GI) complications were recorded by nursing stuff in patients medical records. Complication frequencies were considered during three days for each person. No patients have diarrhea, only residue was seen in four patients. Evaluation of patients receiving Milatech standard formula showed that diarrhea wasn’t seen in hospitalized patients. Diarrhea was reported by the nurses may refer to other diarrhea genic causes including of long length of stay, entral duration or medical side effects or infections.