International journal of clinical practice
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Int. J. Clin. Pract. · Oct 2018
Review Meta AnalysisAntibiotic de-escalation in patients with pneumonia in the intensive care unit: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Antibiotic de-escalation is part of an antibiotic stewardship strategy to achieve adequate therapy for infections while avoiding the prolonged use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. However, there is a paucity of clinical evidence on the clinical impact of this strategy in pneumonia patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). This review aimed to evaluate the impact of antibiotic de-escalation therapy for adult patients diagnosed with pneumonia in the ICU. ⋯ This review highlights the need for more rigorous studies to be carried out before a firm conclusion on the benefit of de-escalation therapy is supported.