Shorter Versus Longer Courses of Antibiotics for Infection in Hospitalized Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Infection is a leading cause of hospitalization with high morbidity and mortality, but there are limited data to guide the duration of antibiotic therapy.

Purpose

Systematic review to compare outcomes of shorter versus longer antibiotic courses among hospitalized adults and adolescents.

Data sources

MEDLINE and Embase databases, 1990-2017.

Study selection

Inclusion criteria were human randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in English comparing a prespecified short course of antibiotics to a longer course for treatment of infection in hospitalized adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older.

Data extraction

Two authors independently extracted study characteristics, methods of statistical analysis, outcomes, and risk of bias.

Data synthesis</

SUBMITTER: Royer S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5945333 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature