Conflicts of interest in infection prevention and control research: no smoke without fire. A narrative review

Article Article scientifique Article Conflicts of interest in infection prevention and control research: no smoke without fire. A narrative review eng 2018 author Abbas Mohamed 528404 author Pires Daniela author Peters Alexandra 876608 author Morel Chantal 830886 author Hurst Samia 0000-0002-1980-5226 84281 author Holmes Alison author Saito Hiroki 887142 author Allegranzi Benedetta 683241 author Lucet Jean-Christophe 45284 author Zingg Walter 654437 author Harbarth Stéphan Juergen 0000-0002-3551-1025 93885 author Pittet Didier 117792 10.1007/s00134-018-5361-z 30206643 0342-4642 Conflicts of interest (COIs) do occur in healthcare research, yet their impact on research in the field of infection prevention and control (IPC) is unknown. We conducted a narrative review aiming to identify examples of COIs in IPC research. In addition to well-known instances, we conducted PubMed and Google searches to identify and report case studies of COIs in IPC and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which were chosen arbitrarily following consensus meetings, to illustrate different types of COIs. We also searched the Retraction Watch database and blog to systematically identify retracted IPC and/or infectious disease-related papers. Our review highlights COIs in academic research linked to ties between industry and physicians, journal editors, peer-reviewed journals' choice for publication, and guideline committees participants and authors. It explores how COIs can affect research and could be managed. We also present several selected case studies that involve (1) the chlorhexidine industry and how it has used marketing trials and key opinion leaders to promote off-label use of its products; (2) the copper industry and how reporting of its trials in IPC have furthered their agenda; (3) the influence of a company developing "closed infusion systems" for catheters and how this affects networks in low- and middle-income countries and guideline development; (4) potential perverse incentives hospitals may have in reporting healthcare-associated infection or AMR rates and how government intervention may restrict AMR research for fear of bad publicity and subsequent negative economic consequences. Finally, the analysis of reasons for the retraction of previously published papers highlights the fact that misconduct in research may have other motivations than financial gain, the most visible form of COIs. COIs occur in the field of research in general, and IPC and AMR are no exceptions. Their effects pervade all aspects of the research and publication processes. We believe that, in addition to improvements in management strategies of COIs, increased public funding should be available to decrease researchers' dependency on industry ties. Further research is needed on COIs and their management. Dewey 174.957 Dewey 613 Dewey 616 56 Département de médecine 221 66 Institut de santé globale 22A1 69 Institut Ethique Histoire Humanités 22A6 false 526 Résistance aux antibiotiques 866 453 Ethique biomédicale 783 907 Groupe Flahault Antoine 945 251 Staphylocoques dorés résistants à la méthicilline et hygiène hospitalière 330 Intensive Care Medicine 495cbdd3-9dc6-4b63-8b9b-2f8660b444ce Article (Published version) Restricted Abbas2018_Article_ConflictsOfInterestInInfection.pdf 739343 application/pdf restrictedAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de médecine Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de santé et médecine communautaires / Institut de santé globale Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de santé et médecine communautaires / Institut Ethique Histoire Humanités

Title	Published in	Year	Views	Downloads

Conflicts of interest in infection prevention and control research: no smoke without fire. A narrative review	Intensive Care Medicine	2018	768	3
Contact Precautions for Preventing Nosocomial Transmission of Extended-Spectrum ß Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli: A Point/Counterpoint Review	Clinical Infectious Diseases	2017	514	1

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Lucet, Jean-Christophe