Appendix: Search strategy and evidence selection

Appendix: Search strategy and evidence selection

Search strategy

General background, guidelines and technology assessments:

  • Broad internet search: 26 November 2013

    • Google scabies ivermectin OR stromectol OR mectizan OR ivomec filetype:pdf [sifted first 5 pages of results]

    • Trip Database ivermectin and scabies

MEDLINE (via Ovid)

Database: Ovid MEDLINE(R) In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations and Ovid MEDLINE(R) <1946 to Present>

Search Strategy: 26 November 2013

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1 Scabies/ (2866)

2 Sarcoptes scabiei/ (589)

3 scabie$.tw. (3031)

4 1 or 2 or 3 (3792)

5 Ivermectin/ (4726)

6 (ivermectin or eqvalan or stromectol or mectizan or mk 933 or mk933 or ivomec).tw. (4293)

7 5 or 6 (5847)

8 4 and 7 (418)

9 limit 8 to english language (362)

10 animal/ not (animal/ and human/) (3970297)

11 9 not 10 (236)

Embase (via Ovid)

Database: Embase <1988 to 2013 November 25>

Search Strategy: 26 November 2013

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1 Scabies/ (3120)

2 Sarcoptes scabiei/ (791)

3 scabie$.tw. (2588)

4 1 or 2 or 3 (3773)

5 Ivermectin/ (7607)

6 (ivermectin or eqvalan or stromectol or mectizan or mk 933 or mk933 or ivomec).tw. (4879)

7 5 or 6 (8054)

8 4 and 7 (756)

9 limit 8 to english language (597)

10 animal/ not (animal/ and human/) (709419)

11 9 not 10 (550)

12 limit 11 to exclude medline journals (67)

Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL)

ID Search Hits 26 November 2013

#1 "scabies":ti,ab,kw (Word variations have been searched) 82

#2 MeSH descriptor: [Scabies] explode all trees 37

#3 (ivermectin or eqvalan or stromectol or mectizan or mk 933 or mk933 or ivomec):ti,ab,kw (Word variations have been searched) 262

#4 MeSH descriptor: [Ivermectin] explode all trees 214

#5 #1 or #2 82

#6 #3 or #4 262

#7 #5 and #6 24

[#8 Limit to Trials 22]

CRD HTA, DARE and EED database

ID Search Hits 26 November 2013

#1 "scabies":ti,ab,kw (Word variations have been searched) 82

#2 MeSH descriptor: [Scabies] explode all trees 37

#3 (ivermectin or eqvalan or stromectol or mectizan or mk 933 or mk933 or ivomec):ti,ab,kw (Word variations have been searched) 262

#4 MeSH descriptor: [Ivermectin] explode all trees 214

#5 #1 or #2 82

#6 #3 or #4 262

#7 #5 and #6 24

[#8 Limit to Economic Evaluations 1]

Evidence selection

This evidence summary included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the efficacy of oral ivermectin for scabies. Because no RCTs were identified that had investigated the efficacy of oral ivermectin for crusted scabies, uncontrolled trials and case series with 4 or more participants with crusted scabies that reported cure rates or treatment failures were included. There are also reports in the literature about using oral ivermectin to treat outbreaks of scabies in mass care settings, such as nursing homes. However, only 1 study met the inclusion criteria for the review.