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The incidence of bacteraemia following insertion of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) was investigated in one hundred fit patients. Four cultures were positive: three represented contamination with skin flora; the other was a microaerophilic streptococcus grown from an anaerobic culture bottle. Although this organism can be pathogenic, it may also represent contamination. Our findings suggest that significant bacteraemia on insertion of the LMA is uncommon and is probably no more than with oral intubation. Antibiotic prophylaxis is of doubt/ul benefit in these circumstances.