Despite growing evidence suggesting a viral component in endodontic infections, no comprehensive synthesis currently exists. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to fill that gap, providing reliable data to support future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.This protocol was developed following the PRISMA-P guidelines and registered in PROSPERO to ensure methodological transparency. It defines clear inclusion and exclusion criteria, outlines a comprehensive search strategy across multiple databases, and specifies the use of the ROBINS-I tool for risk of bias assessment in non-randomized studies. Data synthesis will include both qualitative analysis and meta-analysis, when appropriate, using random-effects models to account for study heterogeneity.
Why is important to make a good protocol for conducting reviews?
A protocol is essential to ensure a transparent, reproducible, and methodologically rigorous approach to reviewing the prevalence of viral infections in acute apical abscesses.