The role of nutritional supplementation in preventing postoperative complications: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Introduction: Hospital-acquired infections represent an increasingly urgent issue, particularly in intensive care and surgical settings, also in light of growing concerns about antibiotic resistance. Concurrently, nutrition-due to its immunomodulatory effects-is gaining attention as a key factor across multiple medical disciplines. The aim of this study was to assess perioperative nutritional interventions-immunonutrition, probiotics, synbiotics, and protein integration-in reducing surgical site infections (SSIs), healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and hospital length of stay (LOS) in surgical patients.
Methods: A comprehensive search on principal databases was performed on December 2024. As effect measures, was calculated the Odds Ratios (OR). The assessment of potential bias and the evaluation of study quality was conducted. Thirty-nine publications were selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis.
Results: Immunonutrition was associated with a reduction in infectious complications (OR = 0.36) and showed a probable reduction in SSIs (OR = 0.35). Some benefits may also be obtained with the administration of probiotics (OR = 0.61). Bloodstream infections (BSIs) appeared to be substantially reduced with probiotics (OR = 0.42), although the certainty of evidence was low. Analytical studies showed weaker effects than RCTs of immunonutrition on SSI reduction compared with randomized control trials (RCTs), underscoring the importance of RCT evidence for clinical…
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Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid.
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