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Each row is one question a systematic review asked: who, what, compared with what, and which outcome, with the effect it found and how certain that is. Words match anywhere in the field.
1,080 questions in 109 reviews · Acute Respiratory Infections
current versionsNo studies 132 · 12.2%Ungraded 90 · 8.3%Very low 169 · 15.6%Low 306 · 28.3%Moderate 287 · 26.6%High 96 · 8.9%
Ungraded means an effect was reported without a GRADE rating; it is not a gap. No studies means the review found nothing to answer the question. The six categories are a display order, not a score.
| Question | Effect | Evidence | Status / GRADE |
|---|---|---|---|
Azithromycin vs amoxicillin Clinical cure (bacteriological per protocol analysis) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 0.29 [0.11, 0.73] | 1 study · 482 participants | Very low |
Azithromycin vs amoxicillin Relapse (ITT analysis) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 0.75 [0.55, 1.02] | 1 study · 673 participants | Very low |
Azithromycin vs amoxicillin Relapse (bacteriological per protocol analysis) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 0.88 [0.43, 1.82] | 1 study · 422 participants | Very low |
Azithromycin vs amoxicillin Adverse events (ITT analysis) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 2.67 [1.78, 3.99] | 1 study · 673 participants | Very low |
Carbacephem vs penicillin Resolution of symptoms post‐treatment (ITT analysis) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 0.7 [0.49, 0.99] | 3 studies · 795 participants | Low |
Carbacephem vs penicillin Resolution of symptoms post‐treatment (evaluable participants) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 0.62 [0.38, 1.01] | 3 studies · 602 participants | Low |
Carbacephem vs penicillin Incidence of relapse (evaluable participants) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 1.27 [0.64, 2.5] | 3 studies · 523 participants | Low |
Carbacephem vs penicillin Adverse events (ITT analysis) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 1.08 [0.75, 1.55] | 3 studies · 795 participants | Low |
Cephalosporins vs penicillin Resolution of symptoms post‐treatment (evaluable participants) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 0.51 [0.27, 0.97] | 5 studies · 1660 participants | Very low |
Cephalosporins vs penicillin Incidence of relapse (evaluable participants) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 0.55 [0.3, 0.99] | 4 studies · 1386 participants | Low |
Cephalosporins vs penicillin Adverse events (ITT analysis) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 0.94 [0.27, 3.25] | 3 studies · 1279 participants | Very low |
Macrolides vs penicillin Resolution of symptoms post‐treatment (ITT analysis) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 1.11 [0.92, 1.35] | 6 studies · 1728 participants | Low |
Macrolides vs penicillin Resolution of symptoms post‐treatment (evaluable participants) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 0.79 [0.57, 1.09] | 6 studies · 1159 participants | Low |
Macrolides vs penicillin Incidence of relapse (evaluable participants) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 1.21 [0.48, 3.03] | 6 studies · 802 participants | Low |
Macrolides vs penicillin Adverse events (ITT analysis) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 1.19 [0.82, 1.73] | 6 studies · 1727 participants | Low |
Azithromycin vs amoxicillin Clinical cure (ITT analysis) · group A streptococcal pharyngitis Different antibiotic treatments for group A streptococcal pharyngitis (2023) · Cochrane | OR 0.76 [0.55, 1.05] | 1 study · 673 participants | Very low |
Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs immediate antibiotics Clinical outcomes · respiratory infections Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 11 studies · 2748 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs no antibiotics Patient satisfaction: delayed (prescription collection) versus no antibiotics · respiratory infections Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections (2023) · Cochrane | OR 1.45 [1.08, 1.96] | 5 studies · 1523 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs no antibiotics Reconsultation rate: delayed (all strategies) versus no antibiotics · respiratory infections Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections (2023) · Cochrane | OR 0.83 [0.46, 1.52] | 2 studies · 584 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs no antibiotics Adverse effects of antibiotics (diarrhoea, vomiting, rash): delayed versus no antibiotics · respiratory infections Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 674 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs immediate antibiotics Duration of clinical outcomes (pain, malaise, fever) · respiratory infections Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 1077 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs immediate antibiotics Antibiotic use: delayed (all strategies) versus immediate antibiotics · respiratory infections Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections (2023) · Cochrane | OR 0.03 [0.01, 0.07] | 8 studies · 2257 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs immediate antibiotics Patient satisfaction: delayed (all strategies) versus immediate antibiotics · respiratory infections Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections (2023) · Cochrane | OR 0.77 [0.45, 1.29] | 7 studies · 1927 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs immediate antibiotics Reconsultation rate: delayed (all strategies) versus immediate antibiotics · respiratory infections Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections (2023) · Cochrane | OR 1.04 [0.66, 1.63] | 4 studies · 972 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs immediate antibiotics Adverse effects of antibiotics · respiratory infections Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 1302 participants | Low |
Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs no antibiotics Clinical outcomes: pain, malaise, fever · respiratory infections Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 1685 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs no antibiotics Duration of clinical outcomes (pain, malaise, fever) · respiratory infections Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 585 participants | Moderate |
Summary of findings table ‐ Delayed antibiotics vs no antibiotics Antibiotic use: delayed (all strategies) versus no antibiotics · respiratory infections Immediate versus delayed versus no antibiotics for respiratory infections (2023) · Cochrane | OR 2.52 [1.69, 3.75] | 5 studies · 1529 participants | Moderate |
Slow passive expiration vs control Time to recovery/time to clinical stability Recovery defined as attaining an ABSS clinical score below 2. ( · paediatric participants between 0 and 24 months old with acute bronchiolitis Chest physiotherapy for acute bronchiolitis in paediatric patients between 0 and 24 months old (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 1 study · 71 participants | Low |
Slow passive expiration vs control Change in the severity status of bronchiolitis Assessed using a variety of scales ( · paediatric participants between 0 and 24 months old with acute bronchiolitis Chest physiotherapy for acute bronchiolitis in paediatric patients between 0 and 24 months old (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 7 studies · 434 participants | Low |
Slow passive expiration vs control Adverse events ( · paediatric participants between 0 and 24 months old with acute bronchiolitis Chest physiotherapy for acute bronchiolitis in paediatric patients between 0 and 24 months old (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 6 studies · 565 participants | Very low |
Forced expiration vs control Time to recovery/time to clinical stability ( · paediatric participants between 0 and 24 months old with acute bronchiolitis Chest physiotherapy for acute bronchiolitis in paediatric patients between 0 and 24 months old (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 628 participants | High |
Forced expiration vs control Change in the severity status of bronchiolitis Assessed using a variety of scales · paediatric participants between 0 and 24 months old with acute bronchiolitis Chest physiotherapy for acute bronchiolitis in paediatric patients between 0 and 24 months old (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 132 participants | Very low |
Forced expiration vs control Adverse events ( · paediatric participants between 0 and 24 months old with acute bronchiolitis Chest physiotherapy for acute bronchiolitis in paediatric patients between 0 and 24 months old (2023) · Cochrane | RR 1 | 2 studies · 599 participants | High |
Medical/surgical masks vs no masks Viral respiratory illness ‐ influenza/COVID‐like illness · general population Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · Cochrane | RR 0.95 [0.84, 1.09] | 9 studies · 276917 participants | Moderate |
Hand hygiene vs control Laboratory‐confirmed influenza · general population and healthcare workers Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · Cochrane | RR 0.91 [0.63, 1.3] | 8 studies · 8332 participants | Low |
Hand hygiene vs control Composite of acute respiratory illness, influenza‐like illness, laboratory‐confirmed influenza · general population and healthcare workers Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · Cochrane | RR 0.89 [0.83, 0.94] | 19 studies · 71210 participants | Low |
Hand hygiene vs control Adverse events · general population and healthcare workers Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 2 studies · 2 participants | Very low |
Medical/surgical masks vs no masks Viral respiratory illness ‐ laboratory‐confirmed influenza/SARS‐CoV‐2 · general population Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · Cochrane | RR 1.01 [0.72, 1.42] | 6 studies · 13919 participants | Moderate |
Medical/surgical masks vs no masks Adverse events · general population Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 3 studies · 3 participants | Very low |
N95 respirators vs medical/surgical masks Viral respiratory illness ‐ clinical respiratory illness · general population and healthcare workers Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · Cochrane | RR 0.7 [0.45, 1.1] | 3 studies · 7799 participants | Very low |
N95 respirators vs medical/surgical masks Viral respiratory illness ‐ influenza‐like illness · general population and healthcare workers Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · Cochrane | RR 0.82 [0.66, 1.03] | 5 studies · 8407 participants | Low |
N95 respirators vs medical/surgical masks Viral respiratory illness ‐ laboratory‐confirmed influenza · general population and healthcare workers Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · Cochrane | RR 1.1 [0.9, 1.34] | 5 studies · 8407 participants | Moderate |
N95 respirators vs medical/surgical masks Adverse events · general population and healthcare workers Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 5 studies · 5 participants | Very low |
Hand hygiene vs control Acute respiratory illness · general population and healthcare workers Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · Cochrane | RR 0.86 [0.81, 0.9] | 9 studies · 52105 participants | Moderate |
Hand hygiene vs control Influenza‐like illness · general population and healthcare workers Physical interventions to interrupt or reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (2023) · Cochrane | RR 0.94 [0.81, 1.09] | 11 studies · 34503 participants | Low |
Nebulised hypertonic saline vs nebulised 0.9% saline Length of hospital stay (days) Â · infants up to 24 months of age with acute bronchiolitis Nebulised hypertonic saline solution for acute bronchiolitis in infants (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 21 studies · 2479 participants | Low |
Nebulised hypertonic saline vs nebulised 0.9% saline Adverse events Assessed by investigators or reported by parents · infants up to 24 months of age with acute bronchiolitis Nebulised hypertonic saline solution for acute bronchiolitis in infants (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 27 studies · 4416 participants | Low |
Nebulised hypertonic saline vs nebulised 0.9% saline Clinical severity score (post‐treatment) at day 1 · infants up to 24 months of age with acute bronchiolitis Nebulised hypertonic saline solution for acute bronchiolitis in infants (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 10 studies · 893 participants | Low |
Nebulised hypertonic saline vs nebulised 0.9% saline Clinical severity score (post‐treatment) at day 2 · infants up to 24 months of age with acute bronchiolitis Nebulised hypertonic saline solution for acute bronchiolitis in infants (2023) · Cochrane | no estimate extracted | 10 studies · 907 participants | Low |