Difficulty: Medium
Average Score: 67%
Simulated
The patient has just been started on an enteral feeding and has developed diarrhea after being on the feeding for 2 hours. What does the nurse suspect is the most likely cause of the diarrhea?
Correct answer
C
Rationale
The correct answer is C: Formula intolerance. The development of diarrhea shortly after starting enteral feeding suggests that the patient may be intolerant to the formula. Formula intolerance can occur due to various reasons such as an individual's inability to digest certain components of the formula, sensitivity to specific ingredients, or a rapid change in feeding composition. This can lead to gastrointestinal upset, including diarrhea.
Other choices are less likely in this scenario:
A: Clostridium difficile is a common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, but the patient has just started enteral feeding and not antibiotics.
B: Antibiotic therapy would not typically lead to immediate diarrhea after 2 hours of starting enteral feeding.
D: Bacterial contamination would usually take longer to cause symptoms and would not be expected to manifest so quickly.
In summary, the rapid onset of diarrhea after initiating enteral feeding points more towards formula intolerance as the likely cause in this case.
Other choices are less likely in this scenario:
A: Clostridium difficile is a common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, but the patient has just started enteral feeding and not antibiotics.
B: Antibiotic therapy would not typically lead to immediate diarrhea after 2 hours of starting enteral feeding.
D: Bacterial contamination would usually take longer to cause symptoms and would not be expected to manifest so quickly.
In summary, the rapid onset of diarrhea after initiating enteral feeding points more towards formula intolerance as the likely cause in this case.