What is the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics on post-stroke infections?
A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that prophylactic antibiotics are effective in reducing the rate of post-stroke infections. The study found that prophylactic antibiotics significantly reduced the incidence of pneumonia (OR 0.51; 95% CI 0.32-0.83) and urinary tract infections (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.25-0.81). Additionally, prophylactic antibiotics also reduced the risk of death due to post-stroke infections (OR 0.42; 95% CI 0.24-0.73). Thus, prophylactic antibiotics are recommended for use in patients with acute stroke to reduce the risk of post-stroke infections.