Then agaian... if there is insufficient evidence, you can also not say that 
they *are* efficacious! :-)
It's difficult indeed, to read research studies really well and draw the 
right conclusions.
I agree with Pamela that if you use good bf practices and the problem gets 
solved, that is also evidence, empirical evidence.
And if you apply really bad bf practices and the problem worsens... is it 
then the AB that help or should we look a bit further and say: "Hey... had 
we not caused all these iatrogenic issues, we would not have needed AB at 
all and would not have been contributing to AB-resistance on a global scale 
by prescribing them unnecessarily."
I think studies can be helpful, but only if we stay alert and don't accept 
things simply because X says so, whoever X is.
I've been pretty annoyed again lately, by this attitude: "The higher 
authority says so, so it must be true and critics shouldn't be such a pain 
in the *** by bringing in different views and question the authority."
Really bad consequences can come from simply believing and following what 
someone in a 'higher' position says...

Warmly,

Marianne Vanderveen IBCLC, Netherlands (with four teenage girls who were 
taught to question rules, thereby pleasantly forcing mom and dad to be 
reasonable and thoughtful and empathetic ;-))

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "[log in to unmask]" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 5:02 PM
Subject: [LACTNET] antibiotic treatment of mastitis


Wait a minute!  The Cochrane reviews are a great tool and have been helpful 
to me personally, anyway.  There's no need to dismiss them.

The problem is that people read "insufficient evidence of efficacy" and hear 
"evidence shows antibiotics aren't efficacious" when all the review is 
saying is "there haven't been enough well-designed studies to provide 
sufficient proof that they do work."  You can't make any kind of treatment 
recommendation at all from that.

Marcia McCoy

>"Speaking of evidence-based practice, has anyone read this Cochrane review
>which suggests that their is insufficient evidence for the efficacy of
>antibiotics for mastitis!?"

             ***********************************************

Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]
COMMANDS:
1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail
2. To start it again: set lactnet mail
3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet
4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome