What do systematic reviews say?

Dialkylcarbamoyl chloride (DACC)‐coated dressing vs alginate dressing

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Dressings and topical agents for the management of open wounds after surgical treatment for sacrococcygeal pilonidal… 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  Studies not reported
  No studies found

Negative pressure wound therapy vs conventional open wound healing

• Dressings and topical agents for the management of open wounds after surgical treatment for sacrococcygeal pilonidal… 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  2 studies · 68 participants
  GRADE not reported

Clipping vs no hair removal

Clipping showed no clear difference in surgical site infection (SSIs) compared with no hair removal (low certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.95 [0.65, 1.39]
  3 studies · 1733 participants
  Low

Shaving vs clipping

Shaving probably leads to higher surgical site infection (SSI) compared with clipping (moderate certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.64 [1.16, 2.33]
  7 studies · 3723 participants
  Moderate

Shaving vs cream

Shaving probably leads to higher surgical site infection (SSI) compared with cream (moderate certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 2.28 [1.12, 4.65]
  9 studies · 1593 participants
  Moderate

Hair removal the day before surgery vs hair removal on the day of surgery

Hair removal the day before surgery showed no clear difference in surgical site infection (SSIs) compared with hair removal on the day of surgery (low certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.83 [0.54, 1.3]
  1 study · 977 participants
  Low

Shaving vs no hair removal

Shaving probably leads to higher surgical site infection (SSIs) compared with no hair removal (moderate certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.82 [1.05, 3.14]
  7 studies · 1706 participants
  Moderate

Depilatory cream vs no hair removal

Depilatory cream showed no clear difference in surgical site infection (SSI) compared with no hair removal (low certainty).

• Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection 2021 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.02 [0.45, 2.31]
  1 study · 267 participants
  Low

Intervention not reported

The intervention leads to higher surgical site infection (all wound classifications) Inspection of… (high certainty).

• Use of plastic adhesive drapes during surgery for preventing surgical site infection 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.23 [1.02, 1.48]
  5 studies · 3082 participants
  High

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in surgical site infection Inspection of the wound1 ( (moderate certainty).

• Use of plastic adhesive drapes during surgery for preventing surgical site infection 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.03 [0.66, 1.6]
  2 studies · 1113 participants
  Moderate

Subcutaneous closure vs no subcutaneous closure

It is very uncertain whether subcutaneous closure changes superficial surgical site infection compared with no subcutaneous closure (very low certainty).

• Subcutaneous closure versus no subcutaneous closure after non‐caesarean surgical procedures 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.84 [0.53, 1.33]
  6 studies · 815 participants
  Very low

Cone of pressure flap vs standard flap technique

• Reconstructive surgery for treating pressure ulcers 2022 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  1 study · 20 participants
  Very low

Subcuticular sutures vs transdermal sutures

Subcuticular sutures showed no clear difference in surgical site infection (SSI) Incidence of wound infection compared with transdermal sutures (low certainty).

• Subcuticular sutures for skin closure in non‐obstetric surgery 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.1 [0.8, 1.52]
  20 studies · 3107 participants
  Low

Subcuticular sutures vs tissue adhesives

Subcuticular sutures showed no clear difference in surgical site infection Incidence of wound infection compared with tissue adhesives (moderate certainty).

• Subcuticular sutures for skin closure in non‐obstetric surgery 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.77 [0.41, 1.45]
  10 studies · 869 participants
  Moderate

Subcuticular sutures vs skin staples

Subcuticular sutures showed no clear difference in surgical site infection Incidence of wound infection compared with skin staples (moderate certainty).

• Subcuticular sutures for skin closure in non‐obstetric surgery 2020 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.81 [0.64, 1.01]
  14 studies · 4163 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

It is very uncertain whether the intervention changes incidence of any surgical site infection (very low certainty).

• Wound drainage for lower limb arterial surgery 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 1.33 [0.3, 5.94]
  1 study · 50 participants
  Very low

Early vs delayed post‐operative bathing and showering

It is very uncertain whether early changes surgical site infection compared with delayed post‐operative bathing and showering (very low certainty).

• Early versus delayed post‐operative bathing or showering to prevent wound complications 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.96 [0.62, 1.48]
  1 study · 857 participants
  Very low

Intervention not reported

The intervention probably leads to lower surgical site infection (moderate certainty).

• Antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing infectious complications in orthognathic surgery 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.42 [0.24, 0.74]
  7 studies · 472 participants
  Moderate

Intervention not reported

The intervention showed no clear difference in surgical site infection (low certainty).

• Antibiotic prophylaxis for preventing infectious complications in orthognathic surgery 2015 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.34 [0.09, 1.22]
  2 studies · 220 participants
  Low

Continuous skin sutures vs interrupted skin sutures

It is very uncertain whether continuous skin sutures changes superficial surgical site infection compared with interrupted skin sutures (very low certainty).

• Continuous versus interrupted skin sutures for non‐obstetric surgery 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 0.73 [0.4, 1.33]
  4 studies · 602 participants
  Very low