What do systematic reviews say?

Summary of findings ‐ withdrawal of penicillin prophylaxis vs continuation

Summary of findings ‐ withdrawal of penicillin prophylaxis showed no clear difference in adverse effects: incidences of nausea and vomiting compared with continuation (low certainty).

• Prophylactic antibiotics for preventing pneumococcal infection in children with sickle cell disease 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.99 [0.18, 22.12]
  1 study · 400 participants
  Low

Summary of findings ‐ initiation of penicillin prophylaxis vs placebo

• Prophylactic antibiotics for preventing pneumococcal infection in children with sickle cell disease 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 457 participants
  Low

Postoperative systemic antibiotics (phenoxymethylpenicillin/penicillin VK, 7-day course), partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics vs Matched placebo, partial or total chemo-mechanical debridement and analgesics

• Systemic antibiotics for symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute apical abscess in adults 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes

  3 days
  1 participant reported diarrhoea (placebo group); 1 participant reported fatigue and reduced energy postoperatively (antibiotic group). 61 participants (2 studies).
  2 studies · 61 participants
  Very low

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) following extractions vs penicillin G

• Interventions for preventing osteoradionecrosis of the jaws in adults receiving head and neck radiotherapy 2019 · Cochrane All outcomes

  6 months
  Adverse effects were an outcome of interest in the study conducting this comparison, however no mention was made of the presence or absence of any adverse events
  1 study · 74 participants
  Very low

Antistaphylococcal cephalosporins C1 and C2 (1st and 2nd generation) vs broad spectrum penicillins plus betalactamase inhibitors P2+ ‐ all outcomes

It is very uncertain whether antistaphylococcal cephalosporins C1 and C2 (1st and 2nd generation) changes maternal composite adverse effects compared with broad spectrum penicillins plus betalactamase inhibitors P2+ ‐ all… (very low certainty).

• Different classes of antibiotics given to women routinely for preventing infection at caesarean section 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.96 [0.09, 10.5]
  2 studies · 468 participants
  Very low