Table 1 Characteristics of included studies
Study | Sample size | Case definition | Interventions | Length of treatment | Setting | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
RCT | ||||||
Millner 1995 | 41 | possible | penicillin G 300,000-375,000 IU/kg, ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg, sample size of groups not reported | 14 days | Tertiary care center | Austria |
Müllegger 1991 | 23 | possible | penicillin G 400,000-500,000 IU/kg (n = 11), ceftriaxone 75–93 mg/kg (n = 12) | 14 days | Tertiary care center | Austria |
Prospective cohort studies | ||||||
Jörbeck 1987 | 9 | possible | penicillin G 150 mg/kg (n = 8), cefuroxime 4.5 g (n = 1) | 10–19 days | Tertiary care center | Sweden |
Retrospective cohort studies | ||||||
Thorstrand 2002 | 203 | probable | ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg, maximum 2 g (n = 109), penicillin 100 mg/kg (n = 53), doxycycline 4 mg/kg, maximum 200 mg (n = 22), cefotaxime 100 mg/kg (n = 19) | 10 days | Tertiary care center | Sweden |
Bingham 1995 | 19 | possible | ceftriaxone, amoxicillin, erythromycin, penicillin, doxycycline, steroids, aciclovir or no treatment. Dosages not stated. | 14–30 days | Tertiary care center | USA |
Skowronek-Bala 2008 | 9 | possible | ceftazidim + doxycycline (n = 5), amoxicillin + doxycycline (n = 1), ceftazidim + amoxicillin (n = 1), doxycycline (n = 1), ceftazidim (n = 1) | 3–6 weeks | Tertiary care center | Poland |