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5 august 2015
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Alcohol Consumption Increases Post-Operative Infection but Not Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: Alcohol consumption causes multiple comorbidities with potentially negative outcome after operations. The aims are to study the association between alcohol consumption and post-operative non-surgical site infections and mortality and to determine the impact of peri-operative interventions.

METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, and The CochraneCochrane is a global independent network of health practitioners researchers patient advocates and o... Library were searched systematically. Observational studiesLike intervention studies observational studies attempt to understand cause-and-effect relationships... reporting patients with a defined amount of alcohol consumption and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed at reducing outcomes were included. Meta-analyses were performed separately for observational studies and RCTs.

RESULTS: Thirteen observational studies and five RCTs were identified. Meta-analyses of observational studies showed more infections in those consuming more than two units of alcohol per day compared with drinking less in both unadjusted and adjusted data. No association between alcohol consumption and mortality was found. Meta-analyses of RCTs showed that interventions reduce infections but not mortality in patients with alcohol abuse.

CONCLUSIONS: Consumption of more than two units of alcohol per day increases post-operative non-surgical site infections. Alcohol-refraining interventions in patients with high daily alcohol consumption appear to reduce infections. The impact in patients with lesser intake is unknown. Further studies are needed.

Additional Info

  • Authors

    Shabanzadeh D.M.; Sorensen L.T.

  • Issue

    Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2015 Aug 5. [Epub ahead of print]

  • Published Date

    5 august 2015

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