Table 1.

Characteristics and methodology for 35 randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of antibiotics in neonatal infectious diseases

	ALL RCTs (n = 35)
	Number (%)
Continent of corresponding author
Africa	3 (9%)
Asia	10 (28.5%)
Europe	10 (28.5%)
North America	12 (34%)
Journal type
Specialty	29 (83%)
General Medical*	6 (17%)
Number of centres
Single centre	30 (85%)
Multicentre national	1 (3%)
Multicentre international	2 (6%)
Not stated	2 (6%)
Funding
Industry	2 (6%)
Institution	5 (14%)
Unknown	28 (80%)
Sample size [median (Q1–Q3)]	63 (34–103)
Minimal age at inclusion†, days (range)	0–7
Maximal age at inclusion‡, days (range)	0–90
Treatment in the control group
Same antibiotic as the test group	18 (52%)
Usual care (no additional antibiotic drug)	10 (28%)
Active reference antibiotic treatment	5 (14%)
Placebo	2 (6%)
Concomitant therapy
Yes, detailed	18 (52%)
Not detailed or not stated	17 (48%)
Jadad score [median (Q1–Q3)]	2 (1–2)
= 0	1 (3%)
= 1	12 (34%)
= 2	16 (46%)
= 3	4 (11%)
= 4	2 (6%)
Risk of bias
Low	3 (9%)
Unclear	9 (25%)
High	23 (66%)
Primary outcome
Defined§	23 (66%)
Not defined	12 (34%)
Power calculation
Stated	14 (40%)
Not stated	21 (60%)
Study primary statistical analysis
Statistically significant	15 (43%)
Not statistically significant	17 (48%)
Not performed/No details on analysis	3 (9%)
Authors' conclusions
Positive	22 (63%)
Negative	13 (37%)

^*Journals that publish articles from any specialty.

^†seven missing data.

^‡seven missing data.

^§Defined explicitly in the article or used in power calculation.