Efficacy of triclosan-coated sutures for reducing risk of surgical site infection in adults: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Surgical site infection (SSI) is the third most frequent type of nosocomial infections. Triclosan-coated sutures are often used to reduce the risk of SSI, but studies examining this have given conflicting results. Therefore, this meta-analysis was performed to assess the efficacy of triclosan-coated sutures for reducing risk of SSI in adults.

METHODS:

PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched to identify randomized clinical trials evaluating triclosan-coated sutures for preventing SSI on patients 18 y or older.

RESULTS:

Thirteen randomized clinical trials involving 5256 participants were included. Triclosan-coated sutures were associated with lower risk of SSI than uncoated sutures across all surgeries (risk ratio [RR] 0.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65-0.88, P < 0.001). Similar proportions of patients experienced wound dehiscence with either type of suture (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.49-1.89, P = 0.92). Subgroup analysis showed lower risk of SSI with triclosan-coated sutures in abdominal surgeries (RR 0.70, 95% CI 0.50-0.99, P = 0.04) and group with prophylactic antibiotic (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.63-0.99, P = 0.04). However, such risk reduction was not observed in cardiac surgeries, breast surgeries, or group without prophylactic antibiotic.

CONCLUSIONS:

Triclosan-coated sutures can decrease the incidence of SSI in abdominal surgeries and might not interfere with wound healing process. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to examine whether triclosan-coated sutures are effective at preventing SSI in non-abdominal surgeries and to further study the interaction of antibiotic prophylaxis with triclosan-coated sutures.

• Authors: Jiao Guo, Ling-Hui Pan, Yun-Xi Li, Xiang-Di Yang, Le-Qun Li, Chun-Yan Zhang, Jian-Hong Zhong
• Journal: The Journal of surgical research (J Surg Res) Vol. 201 Issue 1 Pg. 105-17 (Mar 2016) ISSN: 1095-8673 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26850191 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents, Local
• Triclosan

Topics

• Adult
• Anti-Infective Agents, Local (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Surgical Wound Dehiscence (prevention & control)
• Surgical Wound Infection (prevention & control)
• Sutures (economics)
• Triclosan (administration & dosage)