In comparison to parenteral nutrition, enteral nutrition in severe pancreatitis is associated with which outcome?

• A. Decreased infectious morbidity
• B. Increased infectious morbidity
• C. No change
• D. Unknown

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that feeding through the gut helps protect the body's defenses in severe pancreatitis. Enteral nutrition preserves gut mucosal integrity and supports the gut-associated immune system, which reduces bacterial translocation from the intestine into the bloodstream. This leads to fewer infectious complications compared with parenteral nutrition, which bypasses the gut and is associated with higher infection risk from central venous access and gut atrophy that can promote bacterial translocation. So enteral nutrition tends to lower infectious morbidity. The other options don’t fit because parenteral nutrition typically increases infection risk, and studies show a clear benefit rather than no change or an unknown effect.