Table 2.

Treatment protocol adopted in included trials

Trial	AMS	Control
Chatchai [32]	Patients with appendicitis Tricosan-coated polyglactin 910 suture Prophylactic antibiotics given iv 30–60 mins prior to operation Study suture selected to close the abdominal sheath Appendectomy done with standard technique	Patients with appendicitis Polyglactin 910 suture Prophylactic antibiotics given IV 30–60 mins prior to operation Study suture selected to close the abdominal sheath Appendectomy done with standard technique
Ford [33]	Paediatric patients undergoing various general surgical procedures Triclosan-coated polyglactin 910 suture	Paediatric patients undergoing various general surgical procedures Traditional coated polyglactin 910 suture
Galal [34]	Patients selected from all surgical specialties Triclosan-coated polyglactin 910 suture	Patients selected from all surgical specialties Conventional polyglactin 910 suture
Isik [35]	Patients undergoing cardiac surgery Wound closure with antibacterial polyglactin 910 suture	Patients undergoing cardiac surgery Wound closure with traditional polyglactin 910 suture
Rasic [36]	Patients undergoing elective surgery for colorectal cancer Pre-op investigation included complete colonoscopy, CXR, CT and relevant serum tests Ops performed through a midline incision: skin incised with a scalpel; all other layers were transected with diathermy Prophylactic abxs given during induction of anaesthesia Wound closure was performed with a continuous single-layer mass technique (peritoneum, muscles and fascia) Triclosan-coated polyglactin 910 suture Skin closed with polyamide	Patients undergoing elective surgery for colorectal cancer Pre-op investigation included complete colonoscopy, CXR, CT and relevant serum tests Ops performed through a midline incision: skin incised with a scalpel; all other layers were transected with diathermy Prophylactic abxs given during induction of anaesthesia Wound closure was performed with a continuous single-layer mass technique (peritoneum, muscles and fascia) Polyglactin 910 suture Skin closed with polyamide
Williams [37]	Breast cancer surgery Subcutaneous triclosan-coated polyglactin 910 and poliglecaprone 25 Wounds dressed with Steri-Strips and Tegaderm or Cosmopore or Primapore	Breast cancer surgery Subcutaneous standard coated polyglactin 910 and poliglecaprone 25 Wounds dressed with Steri-Strips and Tegaderm or Cosmopore or Primapore
Zhang [38]	Patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy Intradermal closure Triclosan-coated polyglactin 910 suture	Patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy Simple interrupted closure Chinese silk suture