Probiotics and synbiotics use may help reduce postoperative infection risk, finds study

Postoperative surgical infections are fairly common despite all the measures of disinfection or infection control. They account for a third of all cases of sepsis and are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics (preparations that combine probiotics and prebiotics) are nutritional adjuncts that are emerging as novel therapeutic modalities for preventing surgical infections.

Probiotics and synbiotics use may help curb postoperative infection risk, finds a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Probiotics and synbiotics are safe and effective nutritional adjuncts in reducing postoperative infective complications in elective abdominal surgery. The study has been published in the Annals of Surgery.

According to NIH, Probiotics are live microorganisms that are intended to have health benefits when consumed or applied to the body. They can be found in yoghurt and other fermented foods, dietary supplements, and beauty products.

The researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to define the impact of perioperative treatment with probiotics or synbiotics on postoperative outcome in patients undergoing abdominal surgery

The researchers conducted a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and WHO Global Index Medicus electronic databases were performed to identify randomized controlled trials evaluating probiotics or synbiotics in adult patients undergoing elective colorectal, upper gastrointestinal, transplant, or hepatopancreaticobiliary surgery. Bibliographies of studies were also searched. The primary outcome measure was the incidence of postoperative infectious complications. Secondary outcomes included incidence of noninfectious complications, mortality, length of hospital stay, and any treatment-related adverse events. Quantitative pooling of the data was undertaken using a random-effects model.

The investigators included a total of 34 randomized controlled trials reporting on 2723 participants. In the intervention arm, 1354 patients received prebiotic or symbiotic preparations, whereas 1369 patients in the control arm received placebo or standard care. Perioperative administration of either probiotics or synbiotics significantly reduced the risk of infectious complications following abdominal surgery .Synbiotics but not probiotics also led to a reduction in total length of stay. There were no significant differences in mortality or noninfectious complications between the intervention and control groups. The preparations were well tolerated with no significant adverse events reported.

The researchers concluded that Probiotics and synbiotics are safe and effective nutritional adjuncts in reducing postoperative infective complications in elective abdominal surgery. The treatment effects are greatest with synbiotics.

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doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000003581