[Scientific evidence and antimicrobial therapy: A perfect couple?].
BACKGROUND
The dynamics of infectious diseases at the end of the century claims for the use of evidence-based medicine in clinical and public health decision-making.


METHODS
Description of the methodological process of a systematic review of the evidence.


RESULTS
Description of the stages of a systematic review of the evidence taking as case-study an example of the prevention of respiratory infection in acute care unit patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The case-study described allows us to make recommendations based on the value of evidence to make clinical decisions on the use of antimicrobial therapy.
Jovell
A J
AJ
Servei Català de Salut, Departament de Sanitat i Seguretat Social, Barcelona. fundacio.josep.laporte@uab.es
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011364:Professional Practice / Q000639:trends; D012107:Research Design
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents