Table 1

Characteristics of comparative trials included in the meta-analysis
Reference
 Year
 Type of trial
 Study quality score
 Study population/setting
 Method for the micro-biological diagnosis of pneumonia
 Length of ICU stay (days)
 Duration of mechanical ventilation (days)
 Studied drug/dosage
 Drug administration
 Mode of administration
 ITT
 No. of patients clinically evaluable
Wood et al. [21]
 2002
 Double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT
 5
 Mechanically ventilated for >2 days, trauma patients with >1 risk factor for post-traumatic pneumonia; ICU; USA
 Bronchoalveolar lavage
 19 ± 11 vs 21 ± 12
 16 ± 11 vs 18 ± 13
 Ceftazidime: 250 mg every 12 hours
 For 7 days
 Aerosolized
 59
 20 vs 20
Rouby et al. [19]
 1994
 Non-randomized clinical trial
 NA
 Mechanically ventilated for >3 days; surgical ICU; France
 Bronchoalveolar lavage
 No data
 Survivors: 18 ± 12 vs 12 ± 14 Non-survivors: 9 ± 5 vs 8 ± 4
 Colistin: 200,000 units every 3 h
 For 2 weeks
 Endotracheal instillation
 598
 347 vs 251
Rathgeber et al. [18]
 1993
 RCT
 2
 Mechanically ventilated; ICU; Germany
 Bronchial secretions
 No data
 17 vs 13
 Tobramycin: 80 mg every 6 hours
 Until the time of extubation
 Aerosolized
 69
 29 vs 40
Lode et al. [17]
 1992
 Double-blind, placebo-controlled, RCT
 2
 Mechanically ventilated for >3 days; 5 European ICUs
 No data
 No data
 No data
 Gentamicin: 40 mg every 6 hours
 Until the time of extubation (<14 days)
 Endotracheal instillation
 199
 85 vs 77
Vogel et al. [20]
 1981
 Non-randomized, controlled clinical trial
 NA
 Mechanically ventilated for >5 days; medical ICU; Germany
 Tracheal aspirates
 No data
 8.3 vs 7.4
 Gentamicin: 40 mg every 6 hours
 For 2 weeks
 Endotracheal instillation
 40
 20 vs 20
Klick et al. [15]
 1975
 Double-blind, placebo-controlled, non-randomized clinical trial
 NA
 Mechanically ventilated or not; respiratory-surgical ICU; USA
 Sputum; Tracheal aspirates
 5.1 vs 5.3
 No data
 Polymyxin B: 2.5 mg/kg body weight/day in 6 divided doses
 Throughout the entire ICU stay
 Aerosolized
 744
 355 vs 337
Klatersky et al. [13]
 1974
 Placebo-controlled RCT
 3
 Tracheostomised neurosurgical ICU; Belgium
 Sputum; tracheal aspirates; bronchial secretions
 19.9 vs 14.7
 NA
 Gentamicin: 80 mg every 8 hours
 Throughout the entire ICU stay
 Endotracheal instillation
 110
 43 vs 42
Greenfield et al. [11]
 1973
 RCT
 1
 Mechanically ventilated or not, high-risk patients; respiratory-surgical ICU; USA
 Sputum
 9.0 (median 6.0) vs 7.6 (median 6.0)
 No data
 Polymyxin B: 2.5 mg/kg body weight/day in 6 divided doses
 Throughout the entire ICU stay
 Aerosolized
 58
 33 vs 25

Values are for the group receiving prophylactic antibiotics by the respiratory tract versus (vs) the control group. ICU, intensive care unit; ITT, intention-to-treat; NA, non applicable; RCT, randomized controlled trial.

Falagas et al. Critical Care 2006 10:R123   doi:10.1186/cc5032