Why should the EN tube be flushed before and after each medication?

• A. Prevent drug interactions with formula
• B. Sterilize the tube
• C. Improve taste
• D. Reduce absorption

Answer: (A)

Flushing an enteral tube around medication administration is done to prevent interactions between the medication and the enteral formula. Residual formula in the tubing can bind with certain drugs or cause precipitation, which may reduce the amount of drug that reaches the gut and alter its effective dose. Flushing before a medication clears the tube of formula so the drug won’t immediately encounter formula, and flushing after helps push the full dose through and remove any remaining drug that could interact with formula or contribute to tube occlusion. This practice supports reliable drug delivery and minimizes potential changes in absorption due to drug-formula interactions. It’s not about sterilizing the tube, improving taste, or deliberately lowering absorption.