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March 1997, Vol 132, No. 3 >
ARTICLE | March 1997

Rational and Appropriate Use of Prophylactic Antibiotics-Reply

Paul E. O'Brien, MD; Simon Woods, MBBS; Gillian Anderson, RN
Arch Surg. 1997;132(3):321. doi:10.1001/archsurg.1997.01430270106026.
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Dr Barrie1 states that the study contains a type II statistical error that makes the findings "meaningless." A type II error occurs if it is claimed that no difference exists when, in fact, there are true differences. The most common reason for a type II error is insufficient numbers within the study. We generated an estimate of trial numbers to have a reasonable expectation of avoiding a type II error. We based this estimate on an expected rate of wound infection of 10%. In this study, the total wound infection rate proved to be 4.3%; therefore, we recognized that, although no significance in frequency of major infections was seen between the 3 test groups, we would be unable to state that no true difference existed unless we studied many more patients than was feasible. Thus, we were careful to avoid a type II error.

However, significant differences

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Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

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AAM 2010;304:1493-1495.
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BMJ 2010;341:c5893-c1494.
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