Prophylactic Antibiotics, the Mediator of Post-Stroke Infections: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Infections frequently complicate an acute stroke and have been associated with an unfavorable prognosis among patients. The use of prophylactic antibiotics seems rational, however, its efficacy has remained obscure. This systematic review aims to offer more clarity to this established dilemma. PubMed and Google Scholar were explored to gain access to studies on post-stroke infection. A systematic review was carried out to analyze how profitable it would be to offer preventive antibiotics immediately after an acute stroke. Five randomized control trials were obtained and analyzed the efficacy of antibiotics in acute stroke according to their intrinsic effects on the infection rate, functionality, and mortality benefits. Based on our findings, we discovered that antibiotics reduce the onset of early infections, especially urinary tract infections, but have absolutely no effect on the functionality and offer no mortality benefit. These results were emphatically shown in two large, open-labeled randomized controlled trials involved in this systematic review. Prophylactic antibiotics provide no additional benefits to the standard of care and should not be used following an acute stroke. They may decrease the incidence of acute infections, especially urinary tract infections, but have no effects on functional outcome and mortality.