Table 2 Results of meta-analyses assessing influence of surgical timing on outcomes in necrotizing soft tissue infections

Outcome

Events/total patients (n)

Result (OR, 95% CI)

High-quality studies^a

(OR, 95% CI)

Studies published ≥ 2009^b

(OR, 95% CI)

Studies without limitation on affected body region by NSTI^c

(OR, 95% CI)

Studies without limitation based on specific microbial types of NSTI^d

(OR, 95% CI)

Surgery within 6 h after presentation

137/512

0.43 (0.26–0.70)

0.46 (0.27–0.80)

0.49 (0.30–0.82)

0.44 (0.25–0.75)

0.45 (0.25–0.79)

Surgery within 12 h after presentation

168/669

0.41 (0.27–0.61)

0.40 (0.23–0.69)

0.43 (0.28–0.67)

0.45 (0.29–0.70)

0.41 (0.22–0.74)

Surgery within 24 h after presentation

271/1372

0.79 (0.52–1.20)

0.63 (0.29–1.34)

0.84 (0.52–1.37)

0.85 (0.53–1.38)

1.11 (0.77–1.60)

Surgery within 3 days after onset symptoms

33/172

0.40 (0.15–1.08)

0.41 (0.13–1.29)

0.35 (0.12–1.02)

0.46 (0.16–2.42)

0.13 (0.01–2.42)

Hospital admission within 3 days after onset symptoms

98/326

0.49 (0.16–1.44)

0.66 (0.15–2.83)

0.61 (0.17–2.24)

0.41 (0.08–2.13)

1.01 (0.37–2.74)

Outcome

Events/total patients (n)

Result

(OR, 95% CI)

High-quality studies^a

(OR, 95% CI)

Studies published ≥ 2009^b

(OR, 95% CI)

Studies without limitation on affected body region by NSTI^c

(OR, 95% CI)

Studies without limitation based on specific microbial types of NSTI^d

(OR, 95% CI)

Surgery within 6 h after presentation

45/197

0.68 (0.34–1.39)

0.57 (0.23–1.42)

0.65 (0.31–1.38)

0.64 (0.30–1.38)

0.61 (0.28–1.32)

Surgery within 12 h after presentation

26/138

0.71 (0.28–1.82)

0.54 (0.11–2.54)

0.71 (0.25–1.98)

0.71 (0.24–2.11)

0.55 (0.19–1.54)

Surgery within 24 h after presentation

21/102

0.63 (0.20–2.05)

0.25 (0.04–1.60)

0.70 (0.19–2.58)

0.41 (0.08–2.26)

0.53 (0.14–2.06)