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. 2013 Sep 15;2013(9):CD003588. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD003588.pub3

Blight 1998.

Methods Randomized controlled trial
Participants 769 ICU patients with a CVC containing crystalloids, PN, lipid or drugs. ICU, Australia
Interventions Administration set changes at 72 or 120 hours
Outcomes
  • Catheter colonization

  • CR‐BSI

Notes Exclusions: CVCs inserted by other institutions
 Central catheters: 100%
 PN: mixed (proportion unknown)
 Loss to follow‐up: 36%
Risk of bias
Bias Authors' judgement Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias) Low risk Adequate random sequence generation method; computer generated
Allocation concealment (selection bias) Unclear risk Not discussed
Quote: "Randomised on day 3/5 by an independent person" (abstract)
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) 
 All outcomes Unclear risk Not discussed, not feasible because of research design
Blinding of participants and personnel (performance bias) 
 All outcomes Unclear risk Not discussed, not feasible because of research design
Blinding of outcome assessment (detection bias) 
 All outcomes Unclear risk Minimal information discussed, "independent microbiologist" for primary and secondary outcomes
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) 
 All outcomes High risk Large dropout rate resulting around 30% of tips not cultured; 437/1206
The rate of attrition was similar in both groups
Selective reporting (reporting bias) Unclear risk Conference abstract only, never published
No pre‐protocol
Lumen culture performed but not reported