Triclosan-antibacterial sutures impact on the incidence of surgical site infection in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, laparoscopic appendectomy, or laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a multicenter, double-blind, randomised study

Abstract

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common and major cause of post-operative morbidity. Port site infection is a subgroup of SSI occurring at the ports of laparoscopy. Most experts agree that surgical sites that do not harbour purulent fluid are not infected, but the lack of agreement otherwise means that any retrospective study of SSI is essentially unreliable and useless if it relies upon observation or antibiotic administration as diagnostic criteria. Methods: In our study, 912 individuals were eligible for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendicectomy, or sleeve operations. The study group (polyglactin 910 suture coated with triclosan) included 456 patients. The control group (polyglactin 910 suture) had 456 patients. Results: The incidence of PSI was significantly lower in the triclosan group than the control group (OR 0.31; 95% CI 0.2–0.49; NNT = 9.79). Conclusion: Prospective studies must ensure that criteria for the appearance of the incision are explicit before the study starts and that all observers are trained. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04255927