Review Article

Probiotics Reduce Postoperative Infections in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Table 3

Summary estimates and 95%CIs for effects of different probiotics formulation.

OutcomesNumber of studiesCaseOR (95%CIs)Z-test ( value)χ2HG value
ProbioticsPlacebo

Multistrain probiotic combination
 Total infections21141100.30 [0.15, 0.61]0.00090.240.62
  Surgical site infection (SSI)2542520.48 [0.25, 0.89]0.024.120.66
   Incision infection52042020.38 [0.19, 0.76]0.0061.100.89
   Organ/space SSI250502.43 [0.34, 17.15]0.370.040.84
  Nonsurgical site infection (NSSI)5775690.36 [0.23, 0.56]<0.000015.350.80
   Urinary tract infection21591550.34 [0.13, 0.90]0.031.460.23
   Pneumonia42092070.27 [0.11, 0.63]0.0030.370.95
   Bacteremia42092070.44 [0.23, 0.85]0.012.590.46
  Bacterial translocation295970.28 [0.08, 1.01]0.053.030.08
  Anastomotic leakage21141100.14 [0.02, 0.81]0.030.040.83
Non-multistrain combination
 Total infections32833070.74 [0.50, 1.09]0.132.050.36
 Surgical site infection (SSI)5515960.77 [0.52, 1.12]0.172.600.63
  Incision infection22682890.79 [0.48, 1.31]0.360.760.38
  Organ/space SSI32833070.73 [0.41, 1.31]0.291.860.40
 Urinary tract infection115181.21 [0.07. 21.22]0.89
 Anastomotic leakage22682891.49 [0.78, 2.86]0.230.850.36

HG: heterogeneity, χ2 test with a indicated significant heterogeneity across studies.