Letters to the editor

Abstract

We read with interest the paper from our hospital (The Canberra Hospital - TCH) in the December edition, which concluded that the routine replacement of short peripheral intravenous catheters was not necessary in children. This conclusion is the same as recommended in the CDC 2002 Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections, which recommend in children leaving peripheral venous cannulae in place until IV therapy is completed, unless a complication occurs. This recommendation for the replacement of peripheral intravenous cannulae in children is categorised as 1B, ie, strongly recommended for implementation, supported by some experimental, clinical or epidemiologic studies, and with a strong theoretical rationale.