Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses in Infectious Diseases: How are They Done and What are Their Strengths and Limitations?

In systematic reviews data from original research are assembled in their entirety, critically appraised, and sometimes combined through meta-analysis to answer a clear clinical question. In infectious diseases, as in other domains, systematic reviews and meta-analyses are the type of research most easily translated into clinical practice. Practitioners should familiarize themselves with the methodology of systematic reviews and meta-analyses, their interpretation, and their limitations.