title: Antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing open mesh repair of inguinal hernia: a meta-analysis.
abstract: The use of antibiotic prophylaxis in hernia repair is still under debate. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the effect of antibiotic prophylaxis in patients undergoing open mesh repair of inguinal hernia with respect to incidence of postoperative surgical site infection (SSI).  A literature search was conducted in databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Study selection, data extraction, quality assessment, and meta-analysis were conducted according to the recommendations by Cochrane collaboration. Nine randomized controlled  trials were included. Incidence of surgical site infection was 39/1642 (2.38%) in the antibiotic group and 70/1676 (4.18%) in the control group. Antibiotics showed a protective effect in preventing SSI after mesh inguinal hernia repair (odds ratio: 0.61, 95% confidence interval: 0.40-0.92,  I(2): 0%). Antibiotic prophylaxis did reduce the incidence of SSI in hernia patients undergoing mesh hernioplasty. The cost effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis needs further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Center of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Turun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Banghua
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Zongguang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D059685:Herniorrhaphy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*