Article Figures & Tables
Figures
Fig. 1: Flow diagram of search results. IBD = inflammatory bowel disease, RCTs = randomized controlled trials.
Fig. 2: Per-protocol analysis of pediatric incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Although the difference in overall effect (i.e., the z score) was statistically significant, so too was the heterogeneity (χ2, here with 5 degrees of freedom. Note also that higher values of Ι2 indicate greater heterogeneity).
Fig. 3: Incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea — intention-to-treat analysis. The analysis showed a nonsignificant difference between probiotics and placebo (z score) and statistically significant heterogeneity.
Fig. 4: Incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, by the probiotic strain administered. Both the overall heterogeneity (Ι2) and the difference between probiotics and placebo (z score) were statistically significant. For the combined results of 2 trials of Lactobacillus GG, the heterogeneity was nonsignificant, with a significant difference in overall effect compared with placebo.
Fig. 5: Incidence of antibiotic-associated diarrhea, by probiotic dose. For the 4 studies administering daily doses of at least 5 × 109 colony-forming units (CFUs), the overall effect differed significantly from that of placebo, with minimal heterogeneity. When all data were pooled, however, heterogeneity also became statistically significant.