Thesis (Mnutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION Many patients seen by dietitians in Tygerberg Academic Hospital require feeding via the enteral route. Prior to this study all enteral feeds were mixed individually by hand, and production was time consuming and very labour intensive. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to compare the current method of production, with mechanised bulk production (MP) and "Ready to hang" (RTH) products, taking time, safety and cost effectiveness into consideration. MATERIALS AND METHODS A machine was designed and built to produce and decant bulk volumes of enteral feed. Production methods were evaluated and data was obtained regarding the time taken to produce a feed, and the true cost of the feeds produced. Microbiological samples were collected and the safety of all the three systems was determined and compared. RESULTS MP production time was significantly longer than hand production (HP), but MP decanting was significantly more accurate. RTH feeds cost 152% more than HP feeds, and MP feeds cost 95% of HP feeds. Seventy-one per cent of HP feeds, 74% of MP feeds and 34% of RTH feeds were contaminated just after administration had began. CONCLUSIONS Mechanisation is less labour intensive than HP and helps to decrease total costs. RTH feeds quickly become contaminated after administration decreasing their other advantages. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: IN L E ID IN G Baie van die pasiente wat deur dieetkundiges in Tygerberg hospitaal gesien word, benodig buisvoedings. Vo or hierdie studie geloots was, was alle buisvoedings by Tygerberg hospitaal met die hand gemaak. Hierdie metode is baie tydsaam en arbeidsintensief. Die doel van hierdie studie was, om die voorlopige sisteem van produksie te vergelyk met gemeganiseerde grootmaat produksie en "ready to hang" (RTH). Die studie het die volgende in ag geneenv produksietyd, mikrobiologiese veiligheid en koste effektieweteit. METODE 'n Masjien was ontwerp en gebou om grootmaat buisvoedings aan te maak en aftegiet. Produksie metodes was geevalueer en inligting bymekaar gemaak met betrekking tot produksietyd, en die ware koste van die voedings. Mikrobiologiese monsters was versamel en die mikrobiologiese veiligheid van al drie sisteme is bepaal en vergelyk. RESULTATE Produksie met die masjien was betekenisvol longer as die voedings wat met die hand gemaak was, maar die masjien het betekenisvol meer akkuraat afgemeet met afgiet. RTH voedings se koste beloop 152% meer as voedings wat met die hand gemaak word, en voedings wat deur die masjien gemaak word kos 95% van die wat met die hand gemaak is. Een en sewentig persent van die voedings wat met die hand gemaak was, 74% van die masjiengemaakte voedings en 34% van die RTH voedings was besmet net na toediening begin was. GEVOLGTREKKINGS Meganisasie is minder arbeidsintensief as voedings wat met die hand gemaak is en help om die kostes af te bring. RTH voedings word vinnig besmet met organismes na die begin van toediening en dit verminder hulle ander voordele.

Thesis (MNutr (Human Nutrition))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Background Critical illness is associated with increased production of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress, and low levels of most micronutrients with resultant diminished endogenous antioxidant defences. Micronutrient supplementation is thought to be beneficial to the critically ill patient by ameliorating oxidative stress and by improving clinical outcome. Objectives This systematic review assessed the effects of micronutrient supplementation on adults recovering from critical illness. Primary outcomes included clinical endpoints [mortality, infectious complications, length of intensive care unit and hospital stay (LICU and LOS)]. Secondary outcomes included descriptions of practice issues, micronutrient status, morbidity, course of the acute phase response and oxidative stress. Search strategy An electronic bibliographic database search was carried out, bibliographies of retrieved articles were reviewed and personal files searched to obtain additional citations. Databases were searched from inception until 29 February 2008. Selection criteria Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of micronutrient supplementation (by any route) in adult critically ill patients, given in addition to their routine care, were included. Data collection and analysis Two authors independently extracted data and assessed trial quality. For the primary outcomes the random-effects model was used to estimate overall relative risk / mean difference and effect size due to the presence of study heterogeneity. Selected exploratory analyses were undertaken. Differences at the level of p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. The secondary outcomes were sparse and variably recorded such that this data was not formally aggregated. Main results Fifteen RCTs involving 1714 participants and 18 RCTs involving 1849 participants were included for the primary and secondary objectives respectively. The quality of the RCTs, as reported, was disappointing, particularly for allocation concealment. Fourteen trials (n=1468) of micronutrient supplementation showed a statistically significant reduction in overall mortality [relative risk (RR) 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67-0.90, I2=0%, p=0.0009]. An asymmetrical funnel plot necessitates caution when directly interpreting these results. Six RCTs (n=1194) indicated a statistically significant reduction in 28 day mortality (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.63-0.88, I2=0%, p=0.0006) (symmetrical funnel plot). Micronutrient supplementation in this systematic review was not associated with a reduction in infectious complications, LICU or LOS. In sub-group analyses, single nutrients were associated with borderline statistical significance (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.66-1.01, I2=0%, p=0.06) in terms of mortality, whist a sensitivity analysis of combined micronutrients indicated a significant reduction in mortality (RR 0.69, 95% CI 0.54-0.90, I2=2%, p= 0.006). This review did not find clear evidence that parenteral is superior to enteral administration in terms of clinical outcomes. The secondary outcomes confirmed that timing, duration and dosing are key factors to ensure optimal clinical benefit. Conclusion This review does suggest potential benefit of micronutrient supplementation in critically ill adults for some clinical outcomes (especially mortality), but also highlights that caution is warranted as nutrient interactions and risk of toxicity are not clearly defined in critical illness. More large multi-centre randomized trials are necessary to assess the effects of different types and doses of micronutrient supplementation in selected groups of patients with different types of critical illness.