Evidence Hub

Worldwide Prevalence of Antibiotic-Associated Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Lee EY, Knox C, Phillips EJ

JAMA dermatology, 2023

2,917 participants

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: Antibiotics are an important risk for Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN), which are the most severe types of drug hypersensitivity reaction with a mortality rate up to 50%. To our knowledge, no global systematic review has described antibiotic-associated SJS/TEN.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of antibiotics associated with SJS/TEN worldwide.

DATA SOURCES: The MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched for experimental and observational studies that described SJS/TEN risks since database inception to February 22, 2022.

STUDY SELECTION: Included studies adequately described SJS/TEN origins and specified the antibiotics associated with SJS/TEN.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two reviewers (E.Y.L. and C.K.) independently selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias. A meta-analysis using a random-effects model was performed in the studies that described patient-level associations. Subgroup analyses were performed to explore the heterogeneity. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist, and the certainty of evidence was rated using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Prevalence of antibiotic-associated SJS/TEN was presented as pooled proportions with 95% CIs.

RESULTS: Among the 64 studies included in the systematic review, there were 38 studies that described patient-level associations; the…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 2,917 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free