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Table 2 Search strategy. An example of the comprehensive literature search which will be carried out across the electronic databases, with search terms and limitations applied. This search strategy example is from Embase

From: Respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis for prevention of recurrent childhood wheeze and asthma: a protocol for a systematic review

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Searches

Results

1

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections/

1279

2

“RSV infection*”.mp. [mp=title, abstract, heading word, drug trade name, original title, device manufacturer, drug manufacturer, device trade name, keyword, floating subheading word, candidate term word]

4504

3

Asthma/

211,704

4

“asthma development*”.mp. [mp=title, abstract, heading word, drug trade name, original title, device manufacturer, drug manufacturer, device trade name, keyword, floating subheading word, candidate term word]

1070

5

wheez*.mp. [mp=title, abstract, heading word, drug trade name, original title, device manufacturer, drug manufacturer, device trade name, keyword, floating subheading word, candidate term word]

30,231

6

Respiratory Hypersensitivity/

3915

7

atopy.mp. [mp=title, abstract, heading word, drug trade name, original title, device manufacturer, drug manufacturer, device trade name, keyword, floating subheading word, candidate term word]

26,375

8

1 or 2

5266

9

3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7

244,215

10

8 and 9

976

11

limit 10 to english language

913

12

limit 11 to “all child (0 to 18 years)” [Limit not valid in Embase; records were retained]

913

13

limit 12 to journal article [Limit not valid in Embase; records were retained]

913

14

(later or subsequent*).mp. [mp=title, abstract, heading word, drug trade name, original title, device manufacturer, drug manufacturer, device trade name, keyword, floating subheading word, candidate term word]

1,504,151

15

risk factors/

537,637

16

“clinical factor*”.mp. [mp=title, abstract, heading word, drug trade name, original title, device manufacturer, drug manufacturer, device trade name, keyword, floating subheading word, candidate term word]

23,741

17

14 or 15 or 16

2,032,400

18

13 and 17

345

19

prophylaxis.mp.

205,494

20

Primary Prevention/

37,244

21

monoclonal antibody.mp. or Antibodies, Monoclonal/

261,479

22

palivizumab.mp. or Palivizumab/

2796

23

motavizumab.mp.

252

24

prevention.mp.

1,698,423

25

19 or 20 or 24

1,786,756

26

21 or 22 or 23

263,326

27

25 and 26

17,965

28

18 and 27

62