Duration of operation in association with surgical site infection in Saudi Arabia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: Although surgical site infections (SSIs) are preventable complications of surgical procedures, they continue to represent a threat to public health, having a critical effect on patients and healthcare systems. Methodology: A systematic search was conducted through Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane to include the relevant literature in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Review Manager 5.4 to conduct a quantitative data synthesis for the analyses. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to assess the effect of operation duration as a potential risk factor on SSI. Results: A total of 7 studies were eligible for this study with 3583 patients included. The estimated pooled SSI prevalence among post-operative patients in Saudi Arabia was [0.09 (95% CI; 0.05, 0.12)] with significant heterogeneity level (I-2=93%; P<0.001). The duration of operation of the seven studies was significantly different between those who developed postoperative SSI and the control group [SMD=0.78, (95% CI; 0.22, 1.34), P=0.006]. Conclusion: We reported a relatively high prevalence of postoperative SSI in Saudi Arabia. The least SSI prevalence rate was found among women who underwent cesarean section while the highest prevalence rate was associated with autologous cranioplasty. We also found that prolonged duration of operation was significantly associated with a higher incidence of postoperative SSI.