Systematic reviews and meta-analyses in infectious diseases: Topics that merit special attention

As in other disciplines in medicine, systematic reviews (SR) and meta-analyses (MA) in infectious diseases are an important aid to clinical decision-making. In the present article we review features important to SRs in infectious diseases that should be addressed in most SRs and MAs. We stress the need to include in the SR analysis all patients that were randomized; and all studies that were performed. Authors of SRs should choose one main outcome that matters to patients, and base their conclusions mainly on this outcome. Resistance as an outcome is a topic that should be addressed in all SRs of antibiotic treatment. Ethical aspects and especially patients' safety should be addressed in SRs.