Was an explicit and sensible process used to identify, select and combine the evidence into probabilities?
Decision analysis was largely based on the data accumulated in the meta-analysis conducted by the same authors entitled: “Efficacy of Antiseptic-Impregnated Central Venous Catheters in Preventing Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infection” (1). The meta-analysis reviews studies identified through MEDLINE database from January 1966 to January 1998 which were randomized trials comparing chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine-impregnated central venous catheters with standard central venous catheters. The outcomes assessed were CC and CR-BSI confirmed by catheter culture. Twelve studies were used in the analysis of catheter colonization and eleven were used in the analysis of CR-BSI. PROBABILITY DETERMINATION • Probability of CR-BSI and CC were based on the meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials. Risk ratios for both CR-BSI [0.58; 95%CI (0.4-0.85)] and CC [0.61; 95%CI (0.51-0.73)]were determined using Mantel-Haenszel methods. • Probabilities of CR-BSI and CC with standard catheters were
