ArticleBDJ open2025
Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of viral infections in acute apical abscesses.
Article in BDJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThere is no current consensus on the presence of viral infections in acute apical abscesses; therefore, this protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis is designed to detail the procedures required to investigate the prevalence of viral infections in acute apical abscesses, a common dental condition characterized by pus accumulation due to bacterial infection. Viral infections in oral tissues have been linked to systemic health risks, including chronic inflammation and oncogenesis, which further emphasize the importance of understanding their role in acute apical abscesses. METHODS/
designWe adopted a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol design followed by PRISMA guidelines. A priori protocol was registered in PROSPERO with registry number: CRD42023468287. Inclusion criteria will be established according to the PICO framework; hence, we will include original articles with no restriction on publication date or population group. The selective screening of information will be conducted by peers, starting with titles, abstracts, and keywords, and finally reviewing the full text. The risk of bias will be assessed using the ROBINS tool, and the certainty of the evidence will be evaluated following the GRADE guidelines. We will perform a random-effects meta-analysis, utilizing the Freeman-Tukey double arcsine transformation, to estimate the pooled prevalence of viral infections in acute apical abscesses, assess heterogeneity using the Q-test and I² statistic, evaluate potential publication bias with funnel plots and Egger's test, and conduct sensitivity analyses to ensure robust results. DISCUSSION: At present, no consensus exists regarding the prevalence of viral infections in acute apical abscesses that could inform clinical dental practice. Moreover, the existing body of knowledge on this subject is notably limited. This approach is intended to provide data that will facilitate the improvement of clinical practice and serve as a methodological framework for studying various pathologies. By elucidating the prevalence of viral infections, the findings of this study could enhance diagnostic accuracy and inform more targeted and effective treatment strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
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Registered trials
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.