Table 5.9GRADE profile: Is secondary prophylaxis with quinolone plus G-CSF more effective than secondary prophylaxis with G-CSF alone at improving outcomes in patients with a prior episode of neutropenic sepsis

Quality assessmentNo of patientsEffectQuality
No of studiesDesignLimitationsInconsistencyIndirectnessImprecisionOther considerationsAntibiotics plus G-CSFG-CSF aloneRelative
(95% CI)		Absolute
Documented infection
1randomised trialsserious1no serious inconsistencyno serious indirectnessserious2,3none6/44 (13.6%)15/48
(31.3%)		RR 0.44 (0.19 to 1.02)175 fewer per 1000 (from 253 fewer to 6 more)LOW
Overtreatment, death, critical care, length of stay, duration of fever, quality of life (Copy) - not reported
0-----none----
1

Unclear allocation concealment, no blinding mentioned.

2

Low number of events

3

95% C.I. includes both no-effect and appreciable benefit

From: 5, Reducing the risk of septic complications of anticancer treatment

Cover of Neutropenic Sepsis: Prevention and Management of Neutropenic Sepsis in Cancer Patients
Neutropenic Sepsis: Prevention and Management of Neutropenic Sepsis in Cancer Patients.
NICE Clinical Guidelines, No. 151.
National Collaborating Centre for Cancer (UK).
Copyright © National Collaborating Centre for Cancer, 2012.

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