What is the hang time for expressed human milk when used for continuous enteral feedings?

• A. 2 hours
• B. 4 hours
• C. 8 hours
• D. 12 hours

Answer: (B)

Hang time for expressed human milk used in continuous enteral feeds is four hours. Milk can harbor and multiply bacteria, especially once it’s warmed or kept on the infusion line for extended periods. To minimize infection risk in vulnerable patients, any milk on the feeding line should be discarded after four hours. If milk is stored cold, warm only what you’ll use for the next feeding, but once on the line, the four-hour limit remains. Shorter times are more conservative but the standard practice for continuous feeds centers on this four-hour limit; longer times considerably raise contamination risk.