The symposium emphasized the vital role of the clinical pharmacist in monitoring enteral and parenteral nutrition, warning that neglecting the nutritional balance of inpatients exacerbates the risk of infection and prolongs recovery times.
The College of Pharmacy at the University of Basrah organized a scientific symposium titled "The Prevalence of Malnutrition among Inpatients in Basrah Province Hospitals". The symposium featured scientific lectures presented by Assistant Lecturer Duaa Qasim Subaih and Dr. Al-Hassan Al-Mujtaba Abdul-Wahid, highlighting the critical importance of monitoring clinical nutrition for hospitalized patients.
The symposium discussed the disorders resulting from various causes, ranging from deficiencies in essential micronutrients such as vitamins, minerals, proteins, and fats, to imbalances in caloric intake (both deficit and excess). Such imbalances can lead to severe malnutrition, obesity, or other systemic diseases. The lectures further elucidated the serious complications arising from neglecting patient nutrition; malnutrition poses a severe threat, particularly to the elderly and those with chronic disorders. Nutritionally deficient patients lack the immunological capacity to fight infections, experience increased severity of inflammations, endure prolonged and less probable recovery periods, and incur significantly higher treatment costs.
Furthermore, the symposium demonstrated the pivotal role of the clinical pharmacist in overseeing the provision of healthy medical diets to improve the patient's health status. It addressed specific protocols for caring for individuals who have difficulty feeding orally, including the preparation and administration of feeding tubes and parenteral (intravenous) nutrition, alongside strategies to avoid their associated complications. The symposium concluded with several key recommendations, most notably the necessity of continuously monitoring and strictly calculating caloric intake and ensuring balanced, healthy diets to optimize the clinical outcomes of inpatients.
