Cipro and G buttons

[JtownPeds]

I have an enteral feeding client who can tolerate small amounts of water PO. They are refusing to take their Cipro because of the taste and granulation. Cipro granules tend to get stuck in G tubes, but its there a way around this if the client has a button?

[Joe Kirby, RN]

Will the Cipro beads desolve in water? If so, desolve it first then administer per gb. 

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Ciprofloxacin is available as an oral suspension.  Nurse should remind physician to write for oral when requesting orders and/or ask pharmacist to provide for all enteral patients.  Tablet form is solid, no beads and should never be crushed for tube feeding as clogs or trying to give my mouth can get stuck causing choaking hazzard.

Flushing with water prior, give some of dose , flush, remainder dose then final flush should prevent clogging.

[Simba&NalasMom, LPN]

If the g-tube itself is a 16 French or larger, that should be plenty big enough for the granules to pass through. Is it the extension tubing that's getting clogged? If so, you can try to use a bolus extension tube which is quite a bit wider. Most insertion kits come with one. You could also try a 10cc syringe directly inserted into the button.

Otherwise switch to suspension and thin it with water, as previously mentioned.