Silver-based dressings for the prevention of surgical site infections: evidence from randomized trials

<h3>Background</h3><p dir="ltr"><u>Surgical site infections</u> (SSIs) are a major cause of <u>postoperative complications</u>, increasing morbidity and healthcare costs. Silver-based dressings are commonly used due to their <u>antimicrobial...

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Main Author: S. Younes (22254238) (author)
Other Authors: N. Younes (22254241) (author), S. Abunasser (22254244) (author), F. Tamimi (8907779) (author), G. Nasrallah (22254247) (author)
Published: 2025
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author S. Younes (22254238)
author2 N. Younes (22254241)
S. Abunasser (22254244)
F. Tamimi (8907779)
G. Nasrallah (22254247)
author2_role author
author
author
author
author_facet S. Younes (22254238)
N. Younes (22254241)
S. Abunasser (22254244)
F. Tamimi (8907779)
G. Nasrallah (22254247)
author_role author
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv S. Younes (22254238)
N. Younes (22254241)
S. Abunasser (22254244)
F. Tamimi (8907779)
G. Nasrallah (22254247)
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-07-05T06:00:00Z
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv 10.1016/j.jhin.2025.04.026
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Silver-based_dressings_for_the_prevention_of_surgical_site_infections_evidence_from_randomized_trials/30135067
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv CC BY 4.0
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Biomedical and clinical sciences
Clinical sciences
Health sciences
Epidemiology
Surgical site infections
Silver-based dressings
Antimicrobial dressings
Randomized controlled trials
Meta-analysis
Infection prevention
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Silver-based dressings for the prevention of surgical site infections: evidence from randomized trials
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv Text
Journal contribution
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
text
contribution to journal
description <h3>Background</h3><p dir="ltr"><u>Surgical site infections</u> (SSIs) are a major cause of <u>postoperative complications</u>, increasing morbidity and healthcare costs. Silver-based dressings are commonly used due to their <u>antimicrobial properties</u>, but their effectiveness in reducing SSIs remains unclear. </p><h3>Aim</h3><p dir="ltr">To evaluate the efficacy of silver-based dressings compared with non-silver dressings in preventing SSIs in <u>randomized controlled trials</u> (RCTs). </p><h3>Methods</h3><p dir="ltr">A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase to identify RCTs comparing silver-based dressings with non-silver dressings for the prevention of SSIs. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024592966). Meta-analysis using a random-effects model calculated pooled risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity was assessed with the <i>I</i><sup><em>2</em></sup> statistic, and publication bias was evaluated through <u>funnel plots</u> and Egger's test. </p><h3>Results</h3><p dir="ltr">Twelve RCTs with 2928 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Silver-based dressings reduced the risk of SSIs by 40% compared with non-silver dressings (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.41–0.89; <i>P</i><0.05); this difference was significant. Heterogeneity was moderate (<i>I</i><sup><em>2</em></sup>=53%). </p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p dir="ltr">Silver-based dressings reduce the risk of SSIs significantly; however, further high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm their benefits across different surgical contexts and patient populations.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Journal of Hospital Infection<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2025.04.026" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2025.04.026</a></p>
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
id Manara2_80b0bb3900d6b26a1eab75942540fb15
identifier_str_mv 10.1016/j.jhin.2025.04.026
network_acronym_str Manara2
network_name_str Manara2
oai_identifier_str oai:figshare.com:article/30135067
publishDate 2025
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rights_invalid_str_mv CC BY 4.0
spelling Silver-based dressings for the prevention of surgical site infections: evidence from randomized trialsS. Younes (22254238)N. Younes (22254241)S. Abunasser (22254244)F. Tamimi (8907779)G. Nasrallah (22254247)Biomedical and clinical sciencesClinical sciencesHealth sciencesEpidemiologySurgical site infectionsSilver-based dressingsAntimicrobial dressingsRandomized controlled trialsMeta-analysisInfection prevention<h3>Background</h3><p dir="ltr"><u>Surgical site infections</u> (SSIs) are a major cause of <u>postoperative complications</u>, increasing morbidity and healthcare costs. Silver-based dressings are commonly used due to their <u>antimicrobial properties</u>, but their effectiveness in reducing SSIs remains unclear. </p><h3>Aim</h3><p dir="ltr">To evaluate the efficacy of silver-based dressings compared with non-silver dressings in preventing SSIs in <u>randomized controlled trials</u> (RCTs). </p><h3>Methods</h3><p dir="ltr">A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase to identify RCTs comparing silver-based dressings with non-silver dressings for the prevention of SSIs. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024592966). Meta-analysis using a random-effects model calculated pooled risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity was assessed with the <i>I</i><sup><em>2</em></sup> statistic, and publication bias was evaluated through <u>funnel plots</u> and Egger's test. </p><h3>Results</h3><p dir="ltr">Twelve RCTs with 2928 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Silver-based dressings reduced the risk of SSIs by 40% compared with non-silver dressings (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.41–0.89; <i>P</i><0.05); this difference was significant. Heterogeneity was moderate (<i>I</i><sup><em>2</em></sup>=53%). </p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p dir="ltr">Silver-based dressings reduce the risk of SSIs significantly; however, further high-quality RCTs are needed to confirm their benefits across different surgical contexts and patient populations.</p><h2>Other Information</h2><p dir="ltr">Published in: Journal of Hospital Infection<br>License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</a><br>See article on publisher's website: <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2025.04.026" target="_blank">https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2025.04.026</a></p>2025-07-05T06:00:00ZTextJournal contributioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersiontextcontribution to journal10.1016/j.jhin.2025.04.026https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Silver-based_dressings_for_the_prevention_of_surgical_site_infections_evidence_from_randomized_trials/30135067CC BY 4.0info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:figshare.com:article/301350672025-07-05T06:00:00Z
spellingShingle Silver-based dressings for the prevention of surgical site infections: evidence from randomized trials
S. Younes (22254238)
Biomedical and clinical sciences
Clinical sciences
Health sciences
Epidemiology
Surgical site infections
Silver-based dressings
Antimicrobial dressings
Randomized controlled trials
Meta-analysis
Infection prevention
status_str publishedVersion
title Silver-based dressings for the prevention of surgical site infections: evidence from randomized trials
title_full Silver-based dressings for the prevention of surgical site infections: evidence from randomized trials
title_fullStr Silver-based dressings for the prevention of surgical site infections: evidence from randomized trials
title_full_unstemmed Silver-based dressings for the prevention of surgical site infections: evidence from randomized trials
title_short Silver-based dressings for the prevention of surgical site infections: evidence from randomized trials
title_sort Silver-based dressings for the prevention of surgical site infections: evidence from randomized trials
topic Biomedical and clinical sciences
Clinical sciences
Health sciences
Epidemiology
Surgical site infections
Silver-based dressings
Antimicrobial dressings
Randomized controlled trials
Meta-analysis
Infection prevention