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. 1998 Apr 25;316(7140):1275–1285. doi: 10.1136/bmj.316.7140.1275

Table 7.

Meta-analysis of data from individual patients. Effect of prophylactic topical antibiotics on mortality in patients in intensive care

APACHE II score No of studies No treated No of controls Odds ratio (95% CI)
Medical patients
0-14 8 18/108 19/117 0.99 (0.47 to 2.06)
15-29  6 77/205 77/232 1.08 (0.72 to 1.62)
⩾30 9 15/29 13/23 1.09 (0.32 to 3.68)
Total 104/342 109/372 1.06 (0.75 to 1.49)
Surgical patients
0-14 8 10/48 11/57 1.25 (0.44 to 3.53)
15-29 9 18/64 15/63 1.18 (0.52 to 2.70)
⩾30 9 2/6 3/4 0.46 (0.04 to 5.27)
Total 30/118 29/124 1.13 (0.61 to 2.12)
Trauma patients
0-14 12  17/238 19/303 1.20 (0.59 to 2.46)
15-29 11  36/231 54/312 0.84 (0.52 to 1.34)
⩾30 12  4/8 6/12  1.17 (0.10 to 13.26)
Total 57/477 79/627 0.94 (0.64 to 1.39)
Overall 191/937 217/1123 1.02 (0.81 to 1.30)