[Correspondence] Extended infusion —putting the benefit into context

In their meta-analysis, Konstantinos Vardakas and colleagues found a significant decrease in all-cause mortality, the most challenging clinical endpoint, by using prolonged rather than short-term infusion for antipseudomonal β-lactams.1 On the basis of mortality in both groups (159 [19·8%] of 805 events with short-term infusion vs 108 [13·6%] of 792 events with prolonged infusion), we can calculate an absolute risk reduction of 6·1% and a number needed to treat of 16·4. This estimate implies that we have to use ext ended infusions in the described setting in approximately 17 patients to save one human life.
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research