A meta-analysis examined the effect of topical nursing application of antimicrobial as a prophylaxis for the stoppage of surgical wound infection in colorectal surgery

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#humans #triclosan #surgical-wound-infection #colorectal-surgery #ointments

A meta-analysis examined the effect of topical nursing application of antimicrobial as a prophylaxis for the stoppage of surgical wound infection in colorectal surgery

Wang et al., 2023 | Int Wound J | Meta Analysis

Citation

Wang Xue, Fu Liming, ... Fang Xuedong. A meta-analysis examined the effect of topical nursing application of antimicrobial as a prophylaxis for the stoppage of surgical wound infection in colorectal surgery. Int Wound J. 2023-Aug;20(6):2010-2019. doi:10.1111/iwj.14064

Abstract

To assess the impact of topical antimicrobial (TA) as a prophylaxis for the stoppage of surgical wound infection (SWI) in colorectal surgery (CS), we lead a meta-analysis. 9160 participants with CS were enrolled in the chosen studies; 4719 of them used TA, while 4441 served as controls. To assess the effectiveness of TA application in lowering SWIs following CS, odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed with a dichotomous technique with a fixed- or random-effect model. Significantly lower SWIs post CS for TA as whole (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.38-0.64; P < .001), gentamicin collagen sponge and beads (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.32-0.86; P = .01), triclosan impregnated fascial suture (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.38-0.84; P = .005), antibiotic powder, ointment, lavage, or injection for the abdominal wound (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.21-0.59; P < .001), and ionised silver dressing on the closed abdominal wound (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.27-0.77; P = .003) compared to control. Significantly lower SWIs post CS for TA as a whole, gentamicin collagen sponge and beads, triclosan impregnated fascial sutures, antibiotic powder, ointment, lavage, or injection for the abdominal wound, and ionised silver dressing on the closed abdominal wound compared with control. The low sample size of 8 out of the 39 included studies in this meta-analysis calls for precaution when analysing the outcomes.

Key Findings

The low sample size of 8 out of the 39 included studies in this meta-analysis calls for precaution when analysing the outcomes.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 9160
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Humans
  • Triclosan
  • Surgical Wound Infection
  • Colorectal Surgery
  • Ointments
  • Powders
  • Silver
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Gentamicins
  • Collagen

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Meta-Analysis, Journal Article, Retracted Publication
  • Vertical: collagen

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09