Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39493742›Full record

ReviewGerms2024

Continuous versus intermittent infusion of beta-lactam antibiotics: where do we stand today? A narrative review.

Basil Alawyia, Sarah Fathima, Nikolaos Spernovasilis, Danny Alon-Ellenbogen

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Germs, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Beta-lactam antibiotics under light: optical and photochemical characterization.Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology · 2026
    Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Basil AlawyiaMD, Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, University of Nicosia Medical School, 2417 Nicosia, Cyprus.
Sarah FathimaMD, Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, University of Nicosia Medical School, 2417 Nicosia, Cyprus.
Nikolaos SpernovasilisBSc, MD, MPH, PhD, Department of Infectious Diseases, German Oncology Center, 4108 Limassol, Cyprus.
Danny Alon-EllenbogenMD, Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, University of Nicosia Medical School, 2417 Nicosia, Cyprus.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is among the greatest threats to global healthcare. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that by 2050 ten million deaths will be attributed to AMR annually. In response, the WHO has implemented antibiotic stewardship programs which focus on optimizing antibiotic use and raise, amongst others, the issue of the preferred method of intravenous antibiotic administration. Various studies have attempted to answer this question with conflicting results. Review: This review examined several studies assessing extended/continuous infusion compared to intermittent infusion of three beta-lactams: piperacillin-tazobactam, cefepime, and meropenem. The findings and conclusions of each study were summarized and compared to one another to provide a general overview of the current evidence. Conclusions: We conclude that continuous/extended infusion showed a greater clinical benefit in highly critical cases, namely sepsis and febrile neutropenia, compared to intermittent infusion. Additionally, in cases where a pathogen was identified, continuous/extended infusion showed superiority. Nonetheless, high-quality studies with larger samples are needed to demonstrate the difference between these two modes of infusion in a way that would better inform guidelines and policies, aiding in the fight against AMR.

Indexed as

cefepimeContinuous/extended/intermittent infusionmeropenempiperacillin-tazobactam

Identifiers

PMID39493742
PMCPMC11527492

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.