Comparison 1. Azithromycin versus amoxycillin or amoxycillin‐clavulanate.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Clinical failure	15	2496	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.09 [0.64, 1.85]
2 Clinical failure by diagnosis	15		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1 Acute bronchitis	6	1296	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.63 [0.45, 0.88]
2.2 Acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis	9	808	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.24 [0.46, 3.32]
2.3 Pneumonia	5	392	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.93 [0.45, 1.94]
3 Clinical failure by age group	15		Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 Adult	12	2112	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.15 [0.60, 2.20]
3.2 Paediatric	3	384	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.93 [0.45, 1.94]
4 Clinical failure by dose regimen of azithromycin	12	2112	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.15 [0.60, 2.20]
4.1 500 mg once daily x 3	8	1631	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.25 [0.55, 2.83]
4.2 500 mg single dose followed by 250 mg on day 2 to 5	4	481	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.25, 3.62]
5 Clinical failure by type of antibiotic in control group	15	2496	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.09 [0.64, 1.85]
5.1 Amoxycillin	2	291	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.41 [0.16, 1.05]
5.2 Amoxyclav	13	2205	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.28 [0.71, 2.30]
6 Sensitivity analysis excluding one large trial	14	1742	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.20 [0.69, 2.09]
7 Sensitivity analysis excluding three trials with missing data > 10%	12	2250	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.13 [0.62, 2.03]
8 Sensitivity analysis with the condition of concealment	15	2496	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.09 [0.64, 1.85]
8.1 Adequately concealed studies	3	281	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.55 [0.25, 1.21]
8.2 Inadequately or unclearly concealed studies	12	2215	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	1.32 [0.70, 2.49]
9 Microbial eradication	12	961	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.95 [0.87, 1.03]
10 Adverse events	12	2406	Risk Ratio (M‐H, Random, 95% CI)	0.76 [0.57, 1.00]