Table 2

Subgroup analysis for postoperative infective complications^a

Analysis

Number of studies

References

Treatment group

(episodes/total patients)

Control group

(episodes/total patients)

OR (95% CI)

P value

I²

SSI high-risk patients

13

[22], [24,25], [27], [30-32], [34], [36-38], [44], [46]

109/1,483

177/1,522

0.48 (0.33 to 0.70)

0.0001

21%

SSI studies providing definitions consistent with CDC criteria

8

[22], [25], [30-32], [36], [44,45]

32/362

74/390

0.37 (0.23 to 0.58)

0.0001

0%

Pneumonia high-risk patients

12

[22], [24,25], [30-32], [36,37], [39], [42], [44], [46]

115/1,444

155/1,428

0.70 (0.54 to 0.91)

0.008

0%

Pneumonia studies providing definitions consistent with CDC criteria

9

[22], [25], [28], [30-32], [36,37], [44]

99/1,289

141/1,341

0.70 (0.53 to 0.93)

0.01

0%

UTI high-risk patients

10

[22], [25], [30-32], [36], [38], [42], [44], [46]

13/458

31/449

0.44 (0.22 to 0.88)

0.02

1%

UTI studies providing definitions consistent with CDC criteria

7

[22], [25], [30-32], [36], [44]

9/298

24/326

0.45 (0.20 to 0.99)

0.05

0%

^a95% CI: 95% confidence interval; CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; I²: inconsistency; OR: odds ratio; SSI: surgical site infection; UTI: urinary tract infection.

Dalfino et al. Critical Care 2011 15:R154   doi:10.1186/cc10284