Bacterial contamination of enteral nutrient solutions: intestinal colonization and sepsis in mice after ingestion.

Contaminated enteral nutrient solution (ENS) was used to assess the risks of intestinal colonization and invasive sepsis using normal mice. Dilute Osmolite containing 10(6) Group B Streptococci/ml given for 2 to 10 consecutive days resulted in the detection of organisms by rectal washing sampling and in the recovery of 10(3) to 10(4) organisms from the cecum, large intestine, and rectum. Only 10(1) organisms survived in the small intestine. Colonization, or the persistence of organisms for 10 days after exposure, was produced after 2 days of ingestion in 44% of animals and in 100% after exposure for 5 days. There were 39 septic deaths. During the 7-day ingestion interval 15 died and 24 died within 10 days after exposure. The risk of sepsis was highest for young mice. Ways to minimize bacterial contamination of ENS intended for administration to patients are discussed.