Table 1 Characteristics of studies included in the meta-analysis
STUDY/YEAR | COUNTRY | STUDY POPULATION | AGE | STUDY DESIGN | BLINDING OF INVESTIGATORS | MEANS OF DIAGNOSIS OF BACTERIAL EFFUSIONS | TYPE OF BACTERIAL INFECTION | ASSAY METHOD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chan et al./2007 | Taiwan | ICU/ hospital ward | NR | prospective | NR | clinical and biochemical findings; radiological studies; Gram stain; culture | 10 PPE and 12 empyemas | ELISA |
Kim et al./2007 | Korea | Hospital ward | > 18 | prospective | NR | clinical and biochemical findings; radiological studies; culture;response to antibiotic therapy | 17 PPE | ELISA |
Sim et al./2007 | Korea | Hospital ward | NR | prospective | NR | clinical and biochemical findings; radiological studies; culture;response to antibiotic therapy | 15 PPE | ELISA |
Huang et al./2008 | China | Hospital ward | 17-81 | prospective | NR | clinical and biochemical findings; radiological studies; culture;response to antibiotic therapy | 4 PPE and 17 empyemas | ELISA |
Bishara et al./2009 | Israel | ICU/ hospital ward | NR | prospective | Yes | clinical and biochemical findings; Gram stain; culture | 17 empyemas | ELISA |
Porcel et al./2009 | Spain | ICU/ hospital ward | NR | retrospective | Yes | clinical and biochemical findings; radiological studies; culture;response to antibiotic therapy | 128 PPE and 30 empyemas | ELISA |
Determann et al./2010 | The Netherlands | ICU | NR | prospective | NR | clinical findings; Light's criteria; bacterial culture,response to antibotic therapy | 5 PPE and 11 empyemas | ELISA |