Selective decontamination of the oropharynx and the digestive tract, and antimicrobial resistance: A 4 year ecological study in 38 intensive care units in the Netherlands-authors' response

摘要

The differences in study design between the two studies referred to might be smaller than anticipated by Petros et al. In both studies resistance patterns were analysed at the intensive care unit level, and not at the patient level. Moreover, both analyses were post hoc analyses. Therefore, the results of both studies should be interpreted with caution and be placed within the overall context of data available. We are pleased to read that the authors welcome our continuing efforts to investigate the effectiveness and safety of decolonization practices in intensive care units.