In this recorded webinar, our Corporate Registered Dietitian talks about ENFit: why current enteral devices are changing to ENFit enteral connectors, which devices are affected by these changes and when they are expected to happen.
Enteral misconnections are accidental connections between enteral feeding tubes and non-enteral tubing. This can happen with IV lines, respiratory tubing, urinary catheters and other devices. One example is formula being fed into a patient’s veins when a feeding tube was accidentally connected to the IV line.
The ENFit connection is a solution developed by international safety organizations and manufacturers. Enteral devices with ENFit enteral connectors will connect only to other enteral devices. Here’s a brief timeline of the introduction of ENFit:
2000
The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) recommended that enteral feeding sets be designed so that they are incompatible with non-enteral devices.
2006
The Joint Commission (TJC) issued a Sentinel Event Alert for tubing misconnections. By this time, 9 cases of misconnection were reported to TJC (7 adults and 2 infants) that resulted in 8 deaths and 1 permanent loss of function. In addition, 300 cases of misconnection were reported.
2009
The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) launched A.L.E.R.T., an initiative to raise awareness of enteral misconnections and promote tube feeding safety in hospitals.
2010
International Organization for Standardization published standards for manufacturers to develop the design.
2014
Global Enteral Device Supplier Association (GEDSA) launched a three-phase program for change, outlining the conversion of feeding sets, syringes and feeding tubes/extension sets to ENFit.
2015
U.S. FDA approved the design for a new enteral connector.
2016
Pump and gravity feeding sets with the ENFit connection became available. A white transitional stepped connector* comes with feeding sets for use in feeding tubes that don’t yet have ENFit.
2017
- Enteral syringes with ENFit enteral connectors are available from some manufacturers.
- Feeding tubes and extension sets with ENFit enteral connectors are also available from some manufacturers.
Timing of the transition from current enteral syringes and feeding tubes/extension sets to ENFit versions will depend on hospitals and suppliers.
*Transitional stepped connectors are expected to be available throughout the transition to ENFit. Patients who have an ENFit feeding tube or extension set will no longer need to use the transitional stepped connector.
ENFit is a registered trademark of GESDA.
Used with permission.
