Infected "Scalp-Vein" Needles

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Abstract
To the Editor.—The recent report by Lowenbraun et al (212:451, 1970) indicates that use of indwelling intravenous scalp-vein needles in patients with neoplastic disease is associated with a previously undocumented risk of infectious complications. We recently reported (Society for Pediatric Research, 20th Annual Meeting, May 2, 1970) an incidence of 8.4% (12/142) of positive needle cultures from indwelling scalp-vein needles in general pediatric patients, which is distinctly lower than the incidence of 32.4% (24/74) reported by Lowenbraun et al in patients with neoplastic disease. Our report excluded patients with neoplastic disease who at our hospital are hospitalized on a ward separate from the two general medical wards on which this study was performed. However, a small study on patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in June 1969 corroborates the data of Lowenbraun et al. Seven of 17 (41.2%) cultures of scalp-vein needle tips from these patients were bacteriologically

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