Enteral feeding risk factor

Decreased gastric acidity (antacids, acid-inhibitors), lack in personal hygiene, decreased intestinal motility (opiates, antiperistaltic agents), a disturbed enteric microflora and malnutrition are risk factors for a GTI. In contrast, breast-feeding reduces GTI incidence in infants. 

Risk factors contributing to the development of PMC are age (>60 years) previous surgical intervention non-surgical gastrointestinal procedures presence of a nasogastric tube and enteral feeding antiulcer medication, hospitalisation in an intensive care unit malignancies (lymphoma, leukaemia) immunosuppression transplantation irradiation pulmonary disease severe cardiac disease and heavy-metal exposure (Ros et al. 1996 Cleary 1998 Dallal et al. 2002). 

For infants born prematurely, vitamin A (provided in enteral feeds or intramuscularly) is now recognized as an important component of medical care, and as a significant factor in reducing the risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and chronic lung disease. 

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