OBJECTIVE: To verify the degree of suitability of production areas and the level of microbial contamination in enteral diets used in three private hospitals in the Northwest region of Paraná, Brazil. METHODS: The analysis of the Good Enteral Nutrition Preparation Practices followed the Collegiate Directory Resolution nº 63/2000 of the Brazilian National Agency of Sanitary Surveillance, and the microbiological analyses of 15 samples of enteral diets followed the recommendations of the Collegiate Directory Resolution nº 12/2001 of the Brazilian National Agency of Sanitary Surveillance, where molds and yeasts, mesophilic bacteria, coliforms at 35 and 45ºC, coagulase-positive Staphylococci, Salmonella sp. and Bacillus cereus were sought. RESULTS: The highest percentage of Non-Conformities was from hospital HS (61%) and the lowest from hospital HT (43.5%). In 100% of the samples from hospitals HP and HT, contamination by coliforms at 45ºC was higher than the reference standard of the Collegiate Directory Resolution nº 12/2001, and in 60% of the samples from hospital HS, contamination by coliforms at 35ºC was above the acceptable level. The samples were found to be within the standards for coagulase-positive staphylococci, Salmonella sp., Bacillus cereus and mesophilic bacteria. In hospitals HT and HP, contamination by molds and yeasts was above that permitted by standard regulation. The results of the analyses show that the contamination of the diets is related to the type of ingredients used and to excess handling. CONCLUSION: The hospitals were not in accordance with good enteral nutrition preparation practices regulated by the Collegiate Directory Resolution nº 63/2000 and not suited to prepare this type of food.
Quality control; Food Handling; Enteral nutrition
