title: Triclosan-coated sutures for the prevention of surgical-site infections: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The scope of this article is to perform a meta-analysis of the studies that compare the use of triclosan-coated sutures (TCS) to uncoated sutures in prevention of surgical-site infections (SSIs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic search of randomized and non-randomized studies was carried out on Pubmed and Scopus databases until July 2016.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The meta-analysis of 30 studies (19 randomized, 11 non-randomized; 15,385 procedures) gave evidence that TCS were associated with a lower risk of SSIs (risk ratio [RR] = 0.68; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57-0.81). Triclosan-coated sutures were associated with lower risk for SSIs in high-quality randomized studies (Jadad score 4 or 5). A lower risk for the development of SSIs based on wound classification was observed in clean, clean-contaminated, and contaminated but not for dirty procedures. No benefit was observed in specific types of surgery: colorectal, cardiac, lower limb vascular or breast surgery. Only a trend was found for lower risk for wound dehiscence, whereas no difference was observed for all-cause mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further randomized studies are needed to confirm the role of TCS in specific surgical procedures and whether or not they are related with lower risk for mortality.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurosurgery , Agios Savvas Cancer Hospital , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Konstantelias
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurosurgery , Agios Savvas Cancer Hospital , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Chrysi Stefania I
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Andriakopoulou
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neurosurgery , Agios Savvas Cancer Hospital , Athens , Greece.
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mourgela
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D013537:Sutures; D014260:Triclosan / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D014260:Triclosan
keywords: Triclosan-coated suture; cardiac surgery; colorectal surgery; hospital-acquired infection; surgical-site infection; wound infection