Grading of the various methodological quality criteria of the evaluated randomized controlled trials
| Origin/reference number (Appendix) Reference number (in the Appendix) | Infection/Antimicrobials tested | Description of randomization | Double blinding | Description of blinding | Description of withdrawals and drop-outs | Eligibility | Interventions | Outcomes | Allocation concealment | Baseline data | Adverse events | Power of the study | Statistical significance | Conflicts of interest and funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | ||||||||||||||
| USA1 | Ear, nose, throat/penicillin vs. trimethoprim-sulfomethoxazole | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Belgium2 | Bacteriuria/sisomicin vs. gentamicin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| UK-Hong Kong3 | Pulmonary tuberculosis/rifampicin plus ethambutol | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| UK-Singapore4 | Pulmonary tuberculosis/rifampicin plus isoniazid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| South Africa5 | Typhoid fever/amoxicillin vs. chloramphenicol | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| West Indies6 | Gonorrhoea/1 vs. 2 dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| USA7 | Intraperitoneal anaerobic bacteria/clindamycin vs. cephalothin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | A1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| USA8 | Prophylaxis in gynaecology/cephalexin vs. placebo | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| USA9 | Prophylaxis in vaginal operation/active drug vs. placebo | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| USA10 | Diarrhoeal disease in apache children/oral colistin sulphate vs. placebo | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1980 | ||||||||||||||
| USA11 | Typhoid fever/amoxicillin vs. ampicillin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| UK12 | Urinary tract infections after lower urinary tract surgery/cephradine 500 mg vs. cephradine 1 g vs. cotrimoxazole vs. no treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| USA13 | Acute pulmonary exacerbations in cystic fibrosis/tobramycin vs. placebo | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| UK14 | Respiratory tract infection/cefaclor vs. amoxicillin | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| USA15 | Gonorrhoea/bacampicillin vs. ampicillin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| USA16 | Prophylaxis of bacteriuria during intermittent catheterization/no treatment vs. neomycin plus polymyxin-B vs. nitrofurantoin macrocrystals | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| UK17 | Prevention of chest infection after cardiac operations/cephradine vs. cefamandole | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| USA18 | Vascular surgery/cephalotin vs. oxacillin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Canada19 | Therapy for intra-abdominal and female genital tract sepsis/clindamycin vs. chloramphenicol vs. ticarcillin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| USA20 | Urinary tract infection/4 vs. 10 days of doxycycline | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1985 | ||||||||||||||
| Canada21 | Intra-abdominal infections/cefoxitin plus placebo vs. tobramycin plus clindamycin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sweden22 | Acute lower urinary tract infection/nalidixic acid vs. pivmecillinam | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| USA23 | Streptococcal pharyngitis/penicillin vs. placebo | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| USA24 | Prophylaxis during caesarean section/moxalactam vs. cefazolin | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| UK25 | Chlamydial infection/tetracycline or erythromycin stearate vs. no treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| USA26 | Prophylaxis for premenopausal women undergoing vaginal hysterectomy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| USA27 | Acute urinary tract infection/1 dose ceftriaxone vs. multiple dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| USA28 | Prophylaxis in caesarean section/ ceftizoxime vs. placebo | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Italy29 | Urinary tract infections/ceftizoxime vs. cefotaxime | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| UK-Ireland30 | Biliary surgery/mezlocillin vs. netilmicin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 | ||||||||||||||
| Switzerland31 | Bacterial infections/ceftriaxone | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Canada32 | Prophylaxis for open heart operations/ cephalothin vs. cefamandole | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Japan33 | Prophylaxis in patients with haematological disorders/aztreonam vs. clindamycin vs. amicacin plus aztreonam vs. clindamycin plus amicacin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Greece34 | Bacteriuria/Cefadroxil vs. cotrimoxazole vs. norfloxacin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| USA35 | Post-caesarean section endometritis | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| The Netherlands36 | Serious bacterial infections/aminoglycoside plus β-lactam vs. netilmicin plus ceftriaxone | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| USA–Zambia37 | Resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae urethritis/ciprofloxacin vs. ceftriaxone | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| UK38 | Prophylaxis in total joint arthroplasty/systemic cefuroxime vs. cefuroxime in bone cement | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Canada39 | Prophylaxis in hip fracture surgery/4 doses cefazolin vs. 1 dose cefazolin plus 3 doses placebo vs. 4 doses placebo | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Italy40 | Arthrosis/imidazole salicylate vs. piroxicam | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | ||||||||||||||
| USA41 | Leukocytospermia/doxycycline vs. trimethoprim vs. no treatment | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Switzerland42 | B-haemolytic streptococcus Pharyngotonsillitis/5 vs. 10 days cefetamet vs. phenoxymethyl penicillin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| New Zealand– Australia43 | Lower respiratory tract infections/ roxithromycin vs. amoxicillin-clavulanic acid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| USA–Canada– Nepal44 | Typhoid fever/3 vs. 14 days ceftriaxone | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Gabon–Germany– Austria45 | Malaria/quinine plus clindamycin vs. quinine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Finland46 | Prevention of acute otitis media after upper respiratory tract infection/amoxicillin- clavulanate vs. placebo | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sweden47 | Recurrent respiratory tract infections/ immunoglobulin plus placebo vs. trimethoprim- sulfamethoxazole plus placebo vs. placebo plus placebo | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| USA48 | Acute maxillary sinusitis/3 vs. 10 days trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sweden49 | Prophylaxis in trochanteric fracture surgery/ cefadroxil vs. cefuroxime | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| USA50 | Secondary bacterial infections of acute bronchitis/5 vs. 10 days cefuroxime axetil | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2000 | ||||||||||||||
| Japan51 | Type 2 diabetes mellitus/erythromycin vs. placebo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| UK52 | Urinary tract infection/pivmecillinam vs. cephalexin | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| USA53 | Neurosyphilis in HIV patients/ceftriaxone vs. penicillin G | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| USA54 | Prophylaxis against Mycobacterium avium in HIV patients/azithromycin vs. placebo | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| UK–New Zealand55 | Helicobacter pylori/omeprazole plus clrarithromycin plus tinidazole or placebo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Croatia56 | Helicobacter pylori/pantoprazole plus amoxicillin plus azithromycin or clarithromycin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Italy57 | Prophylaxis in colorectal surgery/cefepime plus metronidazole vs. ceftriaxone plus metronidazole | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sweden58 | Acute otitis media/5 vs. 10 days ceftibuten | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Japan59 | Helicobacter pylori/400 vs. 800 mg clarithromycin plus lansoprazole plus amoxicillin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| USA60 | Shigellosis/2 vs. 5 days cefixime | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2005 | ||||||||||||||
| USA–Costa Rica61 | Recurrent otitis media and acute otitis media treatment failure/gatifloxacin vs. amoxicillin-clavulanate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Italy62 | Prophylaxis in neonatal intensive care unit/ampicillin and netilmicin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Argentina63 | Acute otitis media/amoxicillin-sulbactam vs. amoxicillin-clavulanic acid | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| USA–South Africa– Estonia–France64 | Skin structure infections/tigecycline vs. vancomycin-aztreonam | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Iran65 | Helicobacter pylori/omeprazole plus bismuth subrcitrate plus metronidazole plus tetracycline vs. omeprazole plus bismuth subcitrate plus furqazolidone plus tetracycline vs. omeprazole plus bismuth subcitrate plus ciprofloxacin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Brazil66 | Helicobacter pylori/tetracycline plus furazolidone vs. amoxicillin plus azithromycin | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| The Netherlands67 | Crohn's disease/ciprofloxacin vs. placebo | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Italy68 | Prophylaxis of early-onset pneumonia in critically ill comatose patients/ampicillin-sulbactam plus standard treatment vs. standard treatment alone | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| USA–Argentina69 | Mild to moderate community acquired pneumonia/ azithromycin vs. clarithromycin | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Turkey70 | Acne vulgaris/azithromycin vs. doxycycline | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |