Bacterial contamination is correlated with which factor?

• A. Temperature of room
• B. Age of patient
• C. Prolonged hang time of enteral product
• D. Short hang time

Answer: (C)

Bacterial contamination in enteral feeds is driven by exposure time. The longer an opened or reconstituted feed sits at room temperature, the more opportunity bacteria have to multiply, increasing contamination risk. Prolonged hang time directly correlates with higher contamination risk, making it the best answer. While room temperature can influence how fast bacteria grow, the key factor here is how long the product remains exposed. Age of the patient doesn’t determine contamination levels in the feed, and a short hang time would reduce risk rather than increase it.