Removing intravascular lines at 72 hours allows need for antibiotics to be reassessed

doi:10.1136/bmj.316.7147.1825a

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M Ruddy, Specialist registrar,
C C Kibbler, Consultant

Department of Medical Microbiology, Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2QG

EDITORőRandolph et al's meta-analysis suggests that continuous infusions of low dose heparin prolong the patency of arterial and venous peripheral catheters.1 This is encouraging for both patients with needle phobia and junior doctors. The authors do not, however, emphasise the risks of invasive vascular devices, particularly the infective risks.

Although some studies disagree, it is widely accepted that rates of phlebitis and infection (both local and systemic) …