Rickets in low-birth-weight infants.

Although the lesions did not show a vascular distribution, they did seem to be related to the level of the arterial catheter, which was above the diaphragm in both infants. The disinfectant solution used by us was 0-5% chlorhexidine in 70% spirit. This same preparation is used in our neonatal unit for all procedures-such as lumbar punctures, insertion of silastic catheters in preterm and term babies but in none has there been evidence of skin necrosis. A high blood alcohol level as found by Harpin and Rutter' is not an adequate sole explanation for these lesions. It, therefore, seems likely that both vascular2 as well as local factors3 may be involved.