Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Trials that were prospective, randomised, controlled, open or blind, where patients were assigned to a systematic antibiotic group or a control group, were included. The length of follow-up ranged from 1 month to 4 years; the mean follow-up (3 studies) ranged from 14 to 23 months.
Specific interventions included in the review
Prophylactic antibiotics in various dosages were compared with a control group (one study was placebo-controlled; care given to the control groups in the other studies was not stated). The prophylactic antibiotics studied were: flucloxacillin with benzylpenicillin; cloxacillin; cloxacillin with amoxycillin, followed by ampicillin or flucloxacillin; and cefazolin.
Participants included in the review
Adults undergoing either a new permanent pacing system implantation, a pulse generator or a lead change.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The outcomes assessed were all probable or documented infections after pacemaker implantation, as defined in the primary studies. Definitions included repeat operation for infective complication, elevated oral temperature, acute local inflammation, and presence of pus in the generator pocket.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors do not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many of the authors performed the selection.