Table 3.

Synbiotics meta-Analysis outcomes—random effects models

No	Outcome (no. of studies)	Studies included	I2 statistic	Cochran Q	Result OR (95% CI) or MD in days	P value	Comments
1	Septicemia/sepsis (4)	Kotzampassi et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2013; Zhang et al., 2012	16.84%, P = 0.37	4.28	0.31 (0.18–0.55)	<0.001	Kotzampassi et al. defined as sepsis
2	Infection incidence (9)	Polakowski et al., 2019; Flesch et al., 2017; Yang et al., 2016; Tan et al., 2016; Kotzampassi et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2013; Mangell et al., 2012; Zhang et al., 2012	0.0%, P = 0.69	5.60	0.34 (0.21–0.54)	<0.001	2 different measures: surgical site infection only and various infections
3	Diarrheal incidence (4)	Yang et al., 2016; Mego et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2013	0.0%, P = 0.98	0.16	0.38 (0.24–0.60)	<0.001	—
4	Duration of hospital stay (6)	Polakowski et al., 2019; Yang et al., 2016; Tan et al., 2016; Kotzampassi et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2015; Horvat et al., 2010	86.96%, P < 0.001	29.19	−0.41	0.110	—
5	Return to normal gut function (4)	Yang et al., 2016; Tan et al., 2016; Kotzampassi et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2015	37.69% P = 0.23	4.34	−0.66	<0.001	Defined as first defecation by Yang et al., Kotzampassi et al., and Liu et al.
6	Days of antibiotics use (4)	Polakowski et al., 2019; Yang et al., 2016; Liu et al., 2015; Liu et al., 2013;	0.01% P = 0.32	3.51	−0.64	<0.001	—

CI, confidence interval; MD, mean difference; OR, odds ratio.