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HealthRef: https://www.health.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Parenteral-nutrition-guidelines-Feb-2016.pdf

Official source

Source domain: health.gov.za

Collected on 25 June 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

What this means

This document is the “National Parenteral Nutrition Practice Guidelines for Adults” (Department of Health, South Africa), copyrighted in 2016. It provides evidence-based recommendations for best practice in managing parenteral nutrition (PN) for adult patients in government health facilities, including the purpose, goals, and how PN should be used when oral/enteral feeding is not possible. It defines key terms (e.g., adult, total parenteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition) and outlines roles and responsibilities for a nutrition therapy team, as well as indications, relative indications, and contraindications for PN. The excerpt also states that enteral nutrition should be the first option when feasible and that PN should be started early (day 3–5) for patients unlikely to meet adequate intake.

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Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.

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Obtain the National Parenteral Nutrition Practice Guidelines for Adults (free of charge)

You can obtain the National Parenteral Nutrition Practice Guidelines for Adults prepared by the Directorate: Nutrition, National Department of Health, free of charge.

Who it is for: people seeking the guideline document (e.g., health professionals or organisations supporting nutrition activities)
How to act on it: Request/obtain the publication from the Directorate: Nutrition, National Department of Health using the provided postal address or contact details.

Show the line this came from

Prepared and obtainable free of charge from: Directorate: Nutrition national Department of Health Private Bag X828 Pretoria 0001 Tel: (012) 395 9621 Fax: 086 632 8484 Department of Health – 2016 www.health.gov.za

Facts

Places

Mpumalanga, Stellenbosch Local Municipality, Western Cape

Reference

https://www.health.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Parenteral-nutrition-guidelines-Feb-2016.pdf

Key Takeaways

Document title: National Parenteral Nutrition Practice Guidelines for Adults
Applies to: adult patients (>18 years) receiving parenteral nutrition therapy in government health facilities
Purpose: evidence-based best-practice recommendations for PN management by health professionals and care workers
Enteral nutrition should be first option when oral intake is inadequate
PN use: when GIT is not available or cannot absorb nutrients (short or long term)
Start PN: for patients expected not to tolerate oral/adequate enteral nutrition (minimum 60% of requirements) by day 3–5 post-admission
Nutrition therapy team (NTT) recommended per facility: dietitian, pharmacist, doctor/surgeon, professional nurse, and other members as needed
Indications for PN include: severe malnutrition with non-functional GIT, GI route not available for 3–5 days, complete bowel obstruction, inability to obtain enteral access, persistent GI haemorrhage, acute abdomen/prolonged ileus, high output enterocutaneous fistula (>500ml/24hrs) with inability to access distal to fistula
Contraindications include: functional GIT, need for emergency surgery, patient refusal, prognosis not warranting aggressive nutrition support, PN risk exceeds potential benefits, inability to obtain venous access
National Department of Health (South Africa)
Directorate: Nutrition
MP Matsoso (Director-General: Health)
Hiliary Goeiman
Anna-Lena Du Toit
Prof. Renée Blaauw
Nolene Naicker
Luzette Van Niekerk
Charne de Lange
Stellenbosch University
Western Cape Department of Health
University of Stellenbosch
Directorate: Affordable Medicines and the National Essential Medicines List Committee
Critical Care Society of Southern Africa
South African Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition in South Africa