Why sterile water for PEG tube?

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I thought tap water for the programmed Q4H free water flush was fine, because the GI tract is hardly sterile! So why did the order say to use sterile water for the flush? It was ordered by the dietician, not the MD, if that makes a difference.

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Specializes in Physiology, CM, consulting, nsg edu, LNC, COB.

No idea. Certainly not true in home care. Perhaps it’s a hospital precaution against iatrogenic infection for a new placement, since the sinks may have other bad bugs in them? If by “programmed” you mean delivered by a pump inline with a bag of tube feed that’s up, perhaps the idea is to prevent contamination of the remaining tube feed. Ask the dietician, would be my advice.

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Specializes in Outpatient Cardiology, CVRU, Intermediate.

We recently had a process/policy change at our hospital. The RD explained that their practice and policy changed (at the national/international level) to cover water used in PEG tubes, etc, because while tap water may be appropriate and safe in one country/location, in other places it is not. Our facility uses bottled water.

If your facility can't or doesn't provide bottled water, sterile water may be the next acceptable option. (Maybe it's cheaper to purchase it in bulk that way for the hospital?)

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