SynthesisInfection2026
Is short-course antibiotic therapy as safe and effective as long-course therapy after surgery for complicated appendicitis? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Infection, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
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Abstract
backgroundShort-course antibiotic (SCA) therapy after appendectomy for complicated appendicitis (CA) has gained increasing attention, but its safety and efficacy remain insufficiently supported by meta-analyses. This study aimed to evaluate whether SCA therapy is as safe and effective as conventional long-course antibiotic (LCA) therapy following appendectomy for CA.
methodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies comparing different durations of postoperative antibiotic therapy for CA. Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.3 for meta-analysis, and the GRADE approach was applied to assess the quality of evidence for key outcomes.
resultsFour RCTs and nine observational studies involving 3,251 patients were included. The meta-analysis revealed no significant increase in the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) (RR = 1.19, 95% CI: 0.52 to 2.73, P = 0.67, low-quality evidence) or intra-abdominal abscess (IAA) (RR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.92 to 1.51, P = 0.19, moderate-quality evidence) with less than 3-day SCA therapy compared to LCA therapy. Secondary outcomes showed no significant differences between the two regimens (moderate to very-low quality evidence). However, SCA therapy was associated with a shorter length of hospital stay (low-quality evidence).
conclusionFor patients with CA, less than 3-day SCA therapy does not increase the risk of SSI or IAA. Moreover, reducing the duration of antibiotic use may help minimize unnecessary antibiotic consumption.
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