Table 1 Evidence-based medicine grading system according to the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID).

From: Recommendations for the management of COVID-19 in patients with haematological malignancies or haematopoietic cell transplantation, from the 2021 European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia (ECIL 9)

Strength of recommendation (SoR)

Grade

Definition

A

ECIL strongly supports a recommendation for use

B

ECIL moderately supports a recommendation for use

C

ECIL marginally supports a recommendation for use

D

ECIL supports a recommendation against use

Quality of evidence (QoE)

Level

Definition

I

Evidence from at least 1 properly designed randomised, controlled trial (orientated on the primary endpoint of the trial)

II

Evidence from at least 1 well-designed clinical trial (including secondary endpoints), without randomisation; from cohort or case-controlled analytic studies (preferably from >1 centre); from multiple time series; or from dramatic results of uncontrolled experiments

III

Evidence from opinions of respected authorities, based on clinical experience, descriptive case studies, or reports of expert committees

Added index for source of level II evidence

Index

Source

 r

Meta-analysis or systematic review of RCT

 t

Transferred evidence, that is, results from different patient cohorts, or similar immune-status situation

 h

Comparator group: historical control

 u

Uncontrolled trials

 a

Published abstract presented at an international symposium or meeting

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