What do systematic reviews say?

Antibiotics vs placebo or no intervention

Antibiotics leads to higher all‐cause mortality at 24±6 months compared with placebo or no intervention (high certainty).

• Antibiotics for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.25 [1.06, 1.48]
  6 studies · 9517 participants
  High

Antibiotics vs placebo

Antibiotics probably leads to lower all‐cause mortality ‐ ICU patients compared with placebo (moderate certainty).

• Antibiotics for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.21 [0.06, 0.72]
  1 study · 93 participants
  Moderate

Antibiotics vs placebo or no intervention

Antibiotics leads to higher cardiovascular mortality at 24±6 months compared with placebo or no intervention (high certainty).

• Antibiotics for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.5 [1.17, 1.91]
  5 studies · 9044 participants
  High
• Antibiotics for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.11 [0.98, 1.25]
  2 studies · 4674 participants
  Moderate

Summary of findings table ‐ Combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation vs oral antibiotics

Summary of findings table ‐ Combined mechanical and oral antibiotic… showed no clear difference in mortality compared with oral antibiotics alone (low certainty).

• Preoperative combined mechanical and oral antibiotic bowel preparation for preventing complications in elective… 2023 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.02 [0.3, 3.5]
  2 studies · 709 participants
  Low

Comparison 1: antibiotic alone or antibiotic with other newborn care interventions vs usual care

Comparison 1: antibiotic alone or antibiotic with other newborn care… showed no clear difference in neonatal mortality ‐ antibiotics alone compared with standard care (moderate certainty).

• Community‐based antibiotic delivery for possible serious bacterial infections in neonates in low‐ and middle‐income… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.07 [0.89, 1.29]
  1 study · 18747 participants
  Moderate
• Community‐based antibiotic delivery for possible serious bacterial infections in neonates in low‐ and middle‐income… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.76 [0.62, 0.94]
  4 studies · 106387 participants
  Moderate

Antibiotics (short duration) vs prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy be used

Should short‐course antibiotic therapy showed no clear difference in mortality MRSA compared with prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy be used (moderate certainty).

• Short‐course versus prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy for hospital‐acquired pneumonia in critically ill adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 1.28 [0.32, 5.09]
  1 study · 42 participants
  Moderate

Antibiotics (short duration) vs prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy be used

Should short‐course antibiotic therapy showed no clear difference in mortality NF‐GNB compared with prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy be used (low certainty).

• Short‐course versus prolonged‐course antibiotic therapy for hospital‐acquired pneumonia in critically ill adults 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  OR 0.95 [0.39, 2.27]
  2 studies · 179 participants
  Low

Antibiotics (short duration) vs antibiotics (long duration) postpartum

• Antibiotic regimens for management of intra‐amniotic infection 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies · 0 participants
  GRADE not reported

Comparison 2: any simplified antibiotic regimen vs 7 days injectable benzylpenicillin + injectable gentamicin

Comparison 2: any simplified antibiotic regimen showed no clear difference in neonatal mortality compared with the standard antibiotic regimen (7 days injectable benzylpenicillin… (moderate certainty).

• Community‐based antibiotic delivery for possible serious bacterial infections in neonates in low‐ and middle‐income… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.81 [0.44, 1.5]
  3 studies · 3476 participants
  Moderate

Antibiotics on removal of central venous catheter vs no antibiotics

• Antibiotics at the time of removal of central venous catheter to reduce morbidity and mortality in newborn infants 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 88 participants
  Low

Antibiotics vs other antibiotics

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Antibiotic prophylaxis for leptospirosis 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Early discontinuation of antibiotic treatment vs treatment until neutropenia resolution

Early discontinuation of antibiotic treatment showed no clear difference in mortality compared with treatment until neutropenia resolution (low certainty).

• Early discontinuation of antibiotics for febrile neutropenia versus continuation until neutropenia resolution in… 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.38 [0.73, 2.62]
  8 studies · 603 participants
  Low

Lipopeptide antibiotic (daptomycin) vs aminoglycoside (low‐dose gentamicin) plus anti‐staphylococcal penicillin (nafcillin, oxacillin or flucloxacillin) or glycopeptide antibiotic (vancomycin)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• A comparison of different antibiotic regimens for the treatment of infective endocarditis 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Antibiotics vs other antibiotics

It is very uncertain whether summary of findings table ‐ Antibiotics changes all‐cause mortality (penicillin versus doxycycline) compared with other antibiotics (very low certainty).

• Antibiotics for treatment of leptospirosis 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.93 [0.13, 6.46]
  1 study · 168 participants
  Very low

Antibiotics vs other antibiotics

It is very uncertain whether summary of findings table ‐ Antibiotics changes all‐cause mortality (a cephalosporin (cefotaxime) versus doxycycline) compared with other antibiotics (very low certainty).

• Antibiotics for treatment of leptospirosis 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.18 [0.01, 3.78]
  1 study · 169 participants
  Very low

Antibiotics vs other antibiotics

It is very uncertain whether summary of findings table ‐ Antibiotics changes all‐cause mortality (penicillin versus a cephalosporin (cefotaxime… compared with other antibiotics (very low certainty).

• Antibiotics for treatment of leptospirosis 2024 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.38 [0.47, 4.04]
  2 studies · 348 participants
  Very low

Antibiotics on removal of central venous catheter vs no antibiotics

• Antibiotics at the time of removal of central venous catheter to reduce morbidity and mortality in newborn infants 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 88 participants
  Low

Antibiotic prophylaxis before dental procedure vs placebo or no prophylaxis

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing bacterial endocarditis following dental procedures 2022 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Mortality or serious adverse events requiring hospitalisation | No data reported | 248 (1 study) | - | -
  0 studies
  No studies found

Antibiotics on removal of central venous catheter vs no antibiotics

• Antibiotics at the time of removal of central venous catheter to reduce morbidity and mortality in newborn infants 2018 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 88 participants
  Low

Benefits and harms of CSF plus antibiotics vs antibiotics alone

Benefits and harms of CSF plus antibiotics showed no clear difference in overall mortality compared with antibiotics alone (low certainty).

• Colony‐stimulating factors for chemotherapy‐induced febrile neutropenia 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  HR 0.74 [0.47, 1.16]
  13 studies · 1335 participants
  Low