Table 2

Outcome data from the selected comparative trials for the meta-analysis

Reference

Year

ICU-acquired pneumonia (time of evaluation)

Mortality due to pneumonia (time of evaluation)

All cause mortality (time of evaluation)

Proportion of patients with colonization of respiratory tract by P. aeruginosa

Emergence of resistance

Toxicity

Wood et al. [21]

2002

3/20 (15%) vs 11/20 (55%) (day 14); 6/20 (30%) vs 13/20 (65%) (entire ICU stay)

NA

3/20 (15%) vs 6/20 (30%) (entire ICU stay)

No data

No clinically significant changes in bacterial sensitivity patterns^a

None

Rouby et al. [19]

1994

97/347 (28%) vs 100/251 (40%) (week 2)

NA

42/347 (12%) vs 31/251 (12%) (week 2)

No data

Not observed^a

Not mentioned

Rathgeber et al. [18]

1993

5/29 (17%) vs 17/40 (43%) (entire ICU stay)

2/29 (7%) vs 4/40 (10%) (entire ICU stay)

4/29 (14%) vs 8/40 (20%) (entire ICU stay)

2/171 (1%) vs 44/215 (20%)^b

Non-significantly higher incidence mainly of S. epidermidis^a

None

Lode et al. [17]

1992

29/85 (34%) vs 25/77 (32%) (day 16)

NA

23/85 (27%) vs 25/77 (39%) (week 4)

2/85 (2%) vs 6/77 (8%)

No data

Not mentioned

Vogel et al. [20]

1981

Less frequent in the gentamicin group

NA

No data

5/20 (25%) vs 9/20 (45%)

No evidence of increase^a

Not mentioned

Klick et al. [15]

1975

16/355 (5%) vs 24/337 (7%) (entire ICU stay)

5/374 (1%) vs 2/370 (0.5%) (entire ICU stay)

45/374 (12%) vs 45/370 (12%) (entire ICU stay)

6/374 (2%) vs 36/370 (10%)

Did not occur to any significant extent^a

Not mentioned

Klastersky et al. [13]

1974

5/43 (12%) vs 17/42 (40%) (entire ICU stay)

2/43 (5%) vs 4/42 (10%) (entire ICU stay)

23/43 (54%) vs 16/42 (38%) (entire ICU stay)

39/228 (17%) vs 32/174 (18%)^b

The isolated microorganisms from the drug group were slightly more resistant to gentamicin^a

Not mentioned

Greenfield et al. [11]

1973

2/33 (6%) vs 4/25 (16%) (entire ICU stay)

NA

4/33 (12%) vs 6/25 (24%) (entire ICU stay)

0/33 (0%) vs 3/25 (12%)

Not encountered frequently (only six Gram-negative bacteria resistant to polymyxin)^a

Negligible^a

Values are for the group receiving prophylactic antibiotics by the respiratory tract versus (vs) the control group. ^aAccording to the investigators of the study. ^bRefers to proportion of isolates. ICU, intensive care unit;

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