Comparative efficacy and safety of extended versus continuous infusion of beta-lactam antibiotics for severe infection: a network meta-analysis of randomized trials
Authors' conclusion
In patients with severe infections, both EI and CI improved clinical cure versus IB, whereas mortality did not differ significantly.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with severe infections
- Participants
- 10,627 adults · 35 randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
- Comparison
- Extended vs continuous vs intermittent bolus infusion of beta-lactams
- Outcome
- All-cause mortality
Methodological detailsfrequentist, random-effects model, Risk of bias moderate to high in most studies (Cochrane RoB 2)
- Frequentist
- Random-effects model
- Risk of bias moderate to high in most studies (Cochrane RoB 2)
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
EI
74.20%
SUCRA
Each group vs IBOdds ratio (95% CI)
EI
0.80(0.55–1.17)
CI
0.86(0.62–1.02)
Further pooled results
| Outcome | EI | CI | IB | OR (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical cureEI vs IB | 1.58 (1.13–2.23) | ||||
| SUCRA | 87.72% | — not stated in the abstract | — not stated in the abstract | ||
| Clinical cureCI vs IB | 1.35 (1.05–1.85) | ||||
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
— not stated in the abstract
Microbiological success
SUCRA
| Outcome | EI | CI | IB | MD (days) (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital LOSEI vs IB · borderline statistical significance | −3.49 (−6.79 - −0.08) | ||||
| SUCRA | 98.09% | — not stated in the abstract | — not stated in the abstract | ||
| Hospital LOSCI vs IB | 1.11 (−1.24 - 3.63) | ||||
| −10−505Difference, days (linear scale) |
— not stated in the abstract
Microbiological success
- No significant difference
Subgroup analyses (subgroup)
- Variable rankings across categories; no statistically significant subgroup effects
Original publication
Comparative efficacy and safety of extended versus continuous infusion of beta-lactam antibiotics for severe infection: a network meta-analysis of randomized trials. Crit Care. Published 20 June 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →