**Evaluating Meta-Analysis Research of** *Escherichia coli*

Noel Pabalan, Eloisa Singian, Lani Tabangay and Hamdi Jarjanazi

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/67337

### **Abstract**

This chapter summarizes the progress in *Escherichia coli* research that used the meta-analysis approach. Using systematic searches for *E. coli* literature, we tracked meta-analysis publications and analyzed them based on a number of parameters. These included subject/topic (epidemiology, clinical/intervention/prevention and environmental), geographical region (the Americas, Europe and Australasia) and clinical syndrome (enteric, renal, and sepsis/meningitis). These parameters were plotted in terms of time span to obtain a sense of dynamic change or its absence through the years since the turn of the twentieth century. In terms of region, topic and syndrome, highest meta-analysis productivity was attributed to the Americas, clinical/intervention/prevention and enteric, all of which took place in the last 5 years (2011–2016). Over the combined time span of 16 years, the Americas significantly dominated meta-analysis outputs when compared to Europe and Australasia (P = 0.003). In conclusion, our findings facilitate awareness of the progress in this field wherein the studied parameters were analyzed for patterns over time and differential rates of publication productivity.

**Keywords:** *Escherichia coli*, meta-analysis
