A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 4 studies with a total of 401 subjects (aged zero to seven years on enrolment). Fewer children receiving anti-staphylococcal antibiotic prophylaxis had one or more isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. There was no significant difference between groups in infant or conventional lung function. No significant effect on nutrition, hospital admissions, additional courses of antibiotics or adverse effects were found. There was no significant difference in the number of isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa between groups, though there was a trend towards a lower cumulative isolation rate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the prophylaxis group at two and three years and towards a higher rate from four to six years. As the studies reviewed lasted six years or less, conclusions cannot be drawn about the long-term effects of prophylaxis.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment and lack of blinding) and by indirectness (lack of data on important patient oriented outcomes).
Primary/Secondary Keywords