Clinical heterogeneity: characteristics of clinical trials of antistaphylococcal treatment in cystic fibrosis
| First author | Study design | Subjects (n) | Antibiotic or antibiotic combinations used | Clinical strategy | Follow up period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wright2 (ME,B) | NRNC | 18 | Fusidic acid + lincomycin, chloramphenicol, cloxacillin, penicillin V, novobiocin, ampicillin | Eradication then continuous | 5–19 m |
| Loening-Bauke1(M,B) | RCTC | 17 | Cephalexin, ampicillin, erythromycin, dicloxacillin, penicillin, carbenicillin, gentamicin | Continuous | 2 y |
| Brown12(ME,B) | NRNC | Cloxacillin, flucloxacillin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, lincomycin, clindamycin, fusidic acid, cotrimoxazole | Intermittent | 4.5 y | |
| Shapera13(ME,B) | RNC | 29 | Clindamycin (oral) versus clindamycin (im/iv) + oral clindamycin | Eradication | 3–6 m |
| Szaff14(ME,B) | NRNC | 191 | Fusidic acid + oxacillin, dicloxacillin, fusidic acid + rifampicin, lincomycin, penicillin V, methicillin (inhaled) | Intermittent | 14 y |
| Schlesinger15(B) | RCT | 28 | Trimethoprim, sulphamethoxazole, cefadroxil, dicloxacillin | Continuous versus intermittent | 1 y |
| Kerrebijn16(B) | NRCT | 95 | Not mentioned | Continuous versus intermittent | 5 y |
| Harrison17(ME,M,B) | RCT | 21 | Cephalexin vs dicloxacillin | Continuous | 2 m |
| Jensen18(ME) | NRNC | 243 | Dicloxacillin, fusidic acid, flucloxacillin, penicillin V, erythromycin, rifampicin, clindamycin + fusidic acid | Intermittent | 2 y |
| Ballestero19(ME,EM) | NRNC | 60 | Cefuroxime (inhaled), ciprofloxacin, cotrimoxazole, rifampicin, macrolide, amoxycillin + clavulanic acid | Intermittent | 13 m |
| Feigelson20(EM) | NRNC | 80 | Fusidic acid | Intermittent | 15 y |
| Beardsmore11(M) | RCT | 42 | Flucloxacillin, cloxacillin, ampicillin, amoxycillin (± clavulanic acid), penicillin V, erythromycin, cotrimoxazole, cephalosporin, ciprofloxacin | Continuous versus intermittent | 1 y |
| Weaver3(ME,M,EM,B) | RCT | 38 | Flucloxacillin, cloxacillin, ampicillin, amoxycillin (± clavulanic acid), penicillin V, erythromycin, cotrimoxazole, cephalosporin, ciprofloxacin | Continuous versus intermittent | 2 y |
At least 19 different drugs were used over 13 studies, demonstrating extreme heterogeneity between trials.
M = Medline; ME = Medline Express; EM = Embase; B = bibliography search; RCT = randomised controlled trial; NRNC = non-randomised non-controlled, RNC = randomised non-controlled, RCTC = randomised controlled trial (crossover).