What do systematic reviews say?

Gastrointestinal adverse events in people taking macrolide antibiotics vs placebo

Other adverse events in people taking macrolide antibiotics showed no clear difference in deaths compared with placebo (low certainty).

• Adverse events in people taking macrolide antibiotics versus placebo for any indication 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.96 [0.87, 1.06]
  52 studies · 216246 participants
  Low

Third generation cephalosporins vs conventional antibiotics (high and low/middle‐income countries)

• Third generation cephalosporins versus conventional antibiotics for treating acute bacterial meningitis 2007 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  19 studies · 1301 participants
  GRADE not reported

Third generation cephalosporins vs conventional antibiotics (high and low/middle‐income countries)

• Third generation cephalosporins versus conventional antibiotics for treating acute bacterial meningitis 2007 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  11 studies · 129 participants
  GRADE not reported

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in death (moderate certainty).

• Osmotic therapies added to antibiotics for acute bacterial meningitis 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.08 [0.9, 1.3]
  5 studies · 1272 participants
  Moderate

Third generation cephalosporins vs conventional therapy

• Third generation cephalosporins versus conventional antibiotics for treating acute bacterial meningitis 2007 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  19 studies · 1496 participants
  GRADE not reported

Third generation cephalosporins vs conventional therapy

• Third generation cephalosporins versus conventional antibiotics for treating acute bacterial meningitis 2007 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  13 studies · 477 participants
  GRADE not reported

Cephalosporins vs conventional therapy

• Third generation cephalosporins versus conventional antibiotics for treating acute bacterial meningitis 2007 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  10 studies · 318 participants
  GRADE not reported

Third generation cephalosporins vs conventional antibiotics (high and low/middle‐income countries)

• Third generation cephalosporins versus conventional antibiotics for treating acute bacterial meningitis 2007 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  9 studies · 510 participants
  GRADE not reported

Third generation cephalosporins vs conventional antibiotics (high and low/middle‐income countries)

• Third generation cephalosporins versus conventional antibiotics for treating acute bacterial meningitis 2007 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  10 studies · 791 participants
  GRADE not reported

Ceftriaxone vs long‐acting (oily) Chloramphenicol compared

Ceftriaxone showed no clear difference in death ‐ in all participants ‐ short term compared with long‐acting (oily) chloramphenicol (moderate certainty).

• Pre‐admission antibiotics for suspected cases of meningococcal disease 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.21 [0.57, 2.56]
  1 study · 503 participants
  Moderate

Third generation cephalosporins vs conventional therapy

• Third generation cephalosporins versus conventional antibiotics for treating acute bacterial meningitis 2007 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  19 studies · 1496 participants
  GRADE not reported

Ceftriaxone vs long‐acting (oily) Chloramphenicol compared

Ceftriaxone showed no clear difference in death ‐ in confirmed cases of meningococcal meningitis (subgroup) compared with long‐acting (oily) chloramphenicol (moderate certainty).

• Pre‐admission antibiotics for suspected cases of meningococcal disease 2017 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.11 [0.35, 3.56]
  1 study · 308 participants
  Moderate