What is the likely cause of diarrhea in a patient on enteral feeding for 2 hours?

The indication of formula intolerance is indeed a plausible cause of diarrhea in a patient receiving enteral feeding. When a person is on an enteral feeding regimen, the digestive system must adjust to the delivered formula. If the formula has components that the patient cannot properly digest or absorb—perhaps due to a pre-existing gastrointestinal condition, enzyme deficiency, or a sensitivity to certain ingredients—this can lead to digestive discomfort and diarrhea.

Formula intolerance can manifest quickly after the initiation of feeding, as the digestive tract reacts to substances that are unsuitable or excessive for the patient’s condition. Monitoring the patient’s residuals, bowel movements, and tolerance levels is crucial to making timely adjustments to the feeding regimen.

Other potential factors, while relevant, may not account for immediate diarrhea following a short duration of enteral feeding. Bacterial contamination typically involves a longer period after the feeding starts and would usually lead to other systemic symptoms. Antibiotic therapy can alter gut flora over time but does not typically present with immediate diarrhea unless it triggers an overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria like Clostridium difficile. An unbalanced diet might cause issues over a longer timeframe as well and is usually not an issue with properly formulated enteral nutrition provided by feeding products.