The Journal of hospital infection
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Review Meta Analysis
Selective decontamination of the digestive tract reduces bacterial bloodstream infection and mortality in critically ill patients. Systematic review of randomized, controlled trials.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) was undertaken to evaluate the impact of this procedure on bacterial bloodstream infection and mortality. Data sources were Medline, Embase, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, previous meta-analyses, and conference proceedings, without restriction of language or publication status. RCTs were retrieved that compared oropharyngeal and/or intestinal administration of antibiotics as part of the SDD protocol, with or without a parenteral component, with no treatment or placebo in the controls. ⋯ SDD significantly reduced overall bloodstream infections [odds ratio (OR), 0.73; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.59-0.90; P=0.0036], gram-negative bloodstream infections (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.24-0.63; P<0.001) and overall mortality (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.69-0.94; P=0.0064), without affecting gram-positive bloodstream infections (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.77-1.47). The subgroup analysis showed an even larger impact of SDD using parenteral and enteral antimicrobials on overall bloodstream infections, bloodstream infections due to gram-negative bacteria and overall mortality with ORs of 0.63 (95% CI, 0.46-0.87; P=0.005), 0.30 (95% CI, 0.16-0.56; P<0.001), and 0.74 (95% CI, 0.61-0.91; P=0.0034), respectively. Twenty patients need to be treated with SDD to prevent one gram-negative bloodstream infection and 22 patients to prevent one death.