P390 - OPTIMIZING ENTERAL NUTRITION PROTOCOLS TO REDUCE ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA RISK: A DIETITIAN-LED INTERVENTION STUDY

P390

OPTIMIZING ENTERAL NUTRITION PROTOCOLS TO REDUCE ASPIRATION PNEUMONIA RISK: A DIETITIAN-LED INTERVENTION STUDY

A. A. Alfehaidi^1,*

¹Dietetics and Nutrition , HMC, Doha , Qatar

Rationale: Aspiration pneumonia is a major risk for enterally fed patients, with incidence rates up to 30%, necessitating targeted interventions that dietitians are well-positioned to implement and oversee.

Aim:This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a dietitian-led protocol in reducing the incidence of aspiration pneumonia among enterally fed patients in an acute care setting.

Methods: A 12-month study in a 300-bed hospital implemented a comprehensive enteral feeding protocol by dietitians. This included individualized feeding plans, regular swallowing assessments, standardized feeding positions, staff education on aspiration prevention, and multidisciplinary rounds for high-risk patients. The main outcome was the incidence of aspiration pneumonia, with secondary outcomes being hospital stay length and patient satisfaction.

Results: In a study of 250 enterally fed patients, the dietitian-led protocol led to a significant reduction in aspiration pneumonia incidence from 18% to 7%, a decrease in average hospital stay by 2.3 days, and a 15% improvement in patient satisfaction. Dietitians played a key role in risk assessments, feeding plan adjustments, collaboration with speech therapists, education, and monitoring compliance.

Conclusion: The implementation of a dietitian-led enteral feeding protocol significantly reduced the incidence of aspiration pneumonia in enterally fed patients. This study underscores the critical role of dietitians in preventing complications associated with enteral nutrition. Future research should focus on long-term outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of such interventions across diverse healthcare settings.

References:         - Metheny NA, Schnelker R, McGinnis J, Zimmerman G, Duke C, Merrit B, et al. Indicators of tubesite during feedings. The Journal of Neuroscience Nursing. 2005;37(6):320–325. doi: 10.1097/01376517-200512000-00004. 

Disclosure of Interest: A. Alfehaidi Other: .