Nicolau 1999a.

Methods	Prospective, single‐blind, randomised trial.
Participants	34 critical care patients (mean age range 43 to 51 years; 65% male) with nosocomial pneumonia (pg. 134). Exclusion: not stated.
Interventions	Ceftazidime 2 g i.v. q8h infused over 30 minutes vs ceftazidime 1 g i.v. loading dose over 30 minutes, followed by 3 g continuous infusion over 24 h (both groups received concomitant tobramycin 7 mg/kg i.v. daily); treatment duration not stated.
Outcomes	Pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, Cmin, K, t1/2, AUC, clearance). Pharmacodynamic profile. Follow‐up between days 2 and 5 of therapy.
Notes	Pharmacokinetic study, clinical outcomes not stated.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Random sequence generation (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Randomly assigned, but randomisation method not stated (pg. 134).
Allocation concealment (selection bias)	Unclear risk	Not stated.
Blinding (performance bias and detection bias) All outcomes	High risk	Single blind, but unclear which group was blinded (pg. 134).
Incomplete outcome data (attrition bias) All outcomes	High risk	Data were acquired from 41 participants, but only 34 participants were included in analysis; reasons for exclusion not stated (pg. 134).
Selective reporting (reporting bias)	High risk	Outcomes not specified a priori reported (Cmean, isolated pathogens, T > MIC) (pg. 136‐7). "All patients tolerated the continuous infusions with no infusion‐related adverse effects (e.g. phlebitis)" (pg. 136); however, adverse events for the intermittent group were not reported.
Other bias	Unclear risk	Baseline imbalance, intermittent participants older (mean age 51 years vs 43 years). Funded by Glaxo Pharmaceuticals (pg. 139).