NOW RECOMMENDED
Three globally recognized health authorities now recommend the use of triclosan-coated sutures for surgical site infection (SSI) prevention
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): “Consider the use of triclosan-coated sutures for the prevention of SSI”¹*
• World Health Organization (WHO): “The panel suggests the use of triclosan coated sutures for the purpose of reducing the risk of SSI, independent of the type of surgery”²*
• American College of Surgeons & Surgical Infection Society (ACS & SIS): “The use of triclosan coated suture is recommended for wound closure in clean and clean-contaminated abdominal cases when available”³*
*The CDC, WHO, and ACS/SIS guidelines on reducing the risk of surgical site infections are general to triclosan-coated sutures and are not specific to any one brand.


Determining triclosan-coated sutures' ability to help reduce the risk of SSI is the subject of a wealth of clinical evidence, including 10 meta-analyses of 24 randomized controlled trials involving over 7,000 patients.4-14

Sutures, like any foreign material, lower the number of bacteria required to cause an infection; and the biofilm formed on the suture can actually protect bacteria against infection fighting cells and antibiotic therapy. That’s why Ethicon created Plus Antibacterial Sutures. Shown in vitro to inhibit bacterial colonization of the suture for 7 days or more, Plus Sutures are a simple way to address a known risk factor for SSI.15-20

Available in a range of polymers and sizes for all procedures and approaches.
Learn more about STRATAFIX™ Symmetric PDS™
Learn more about Coated VICRYL® Plus
Learn more about MONOCRYL® Plus
Learn more about PDS® Plus
Learn more about STRATAFIX™ Spiral Plus
Site References
For complete indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and adverse reactions, please reference full package insert.
- Berríos-Torres SI, Umscheid CA, Bratzler DW, et al. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 2017. JAMA Surg. doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2017.0904.
- WHO Global Guidelines for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 2016.
- Ban KA, Minei JP, Laronga C, et al. American College of Surgeons and Surgical Infection Society: Surgical Site Infection Guidelines, 2016 Update. J Am Coll Surg. 2016;224:59-74.
- Apisarnthanarak A, Singh N, Bandong AN, et al. Triclosan-Coated Sutures Reduce the Risk of Surgical Site Infections: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology 2015;36:169179.
- Chang WK, Srinivasa S, Morton R, et al. Triclosan-Impregnated Sutures to Decrease Surgical Site Infections: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials. Ann Surg 2012; 255:854859.
- Daoud FC, Edmiston CE Jr, Leaper D. Meta-analysis of prevention of surgical site infections following incision closure with triclosan-coated sutures: Robustness to new evidence. Surg Infect (Larchmt) 2014;15:165181.
- Daoud FC. Systematic Literature Review Update of the PROUD Trial: Potential Usefulness of a Collaborative Database. Letter to Surg Infect (Larchmt) 2014;15:857858.
- Edmiston CE, Daoud FC, Leaper D. Is there an evidence-based argument for embracing an antimicrobial (triclosan)-coated suture technology to reduce the risk for surgical-site infections?: A meta-analysis. Surgery 2013;154:89100.
- Guo J, Pan LH, Li YX, et al. Efficacy of triclosan-coated sutures for reducing risk of surgical site infection in adults: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. J Surg Res 2016; 201:105117.
- Sajid MS, Craciunas L, Sains P, et al. Use of antibacterial sutures for skin closure in controlling surgical site infections: a systematic review of published randomized, controlled trials. Gastroenterol Rep 2013;1:4250.
- Sandini M, Mattavelli I, Nespoli L, Uggeri F, Gianotti L. Systematic review and meta-analysis of sutures coated with triclosan for the prevention of surgical site infection after elective colorectal surgery according to the PRISMA statement. Medicine. 2016;95:35(e4057).
- Wang ZX, Jiang CP, Cao Y, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of triclosan-coated sutures for the prevention of surgical-site infection. Brit J Surg 2013;100:465473.
- Wu X, Kubilay NZ, Ren J, et al. Antimicrobial-coated sutures to decrease surgical site infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2016. DOI: 10.1007/s10096_016_2765-y.
- de Jonge SW, Atema JJ, Solomkin JS, Boermeester MA. Meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of triclosan-coated sutures for the prevention of surgical site infection. Brit J Surg. 2017;ePub-DOI: 10.1002/bjs.10445.
- Hendley JO, Ashe KM. Effect of topical antimicrobial treatment on aerobic bacteria in the stratum corneum of human skin. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy. 1991;35(4):627-631.
- Ward KH, Olson ME, Lam K, Costerton JW. Mechanism of persistent infection associated with peritoneal implants. J Med Microbiol. 1992;36(6):406-413.
- Kathju S, Nistico L, Hall-Stoodley L, et al. Chronic surgical site infection due to suture-associated polymicrobial biofilm. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2009;10(5):457-461.
- Rothenburger S, Spangler D, Bhende S, Burkely D. In vitro antimicrobial evaluation of Coated VICRYL* Plus Antibacterial Suture (coated polyglactin 910 with triclosan) using zone of inhibition assays. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2002;3(Suppl 1):S79-S87.
- Ming X, Rothenburger S, Yang D. In vitro antibacterial efficacy of MONOCRYL plus antibacterial suture (poliglecaprone 25 with triclosan). Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2007;8(2):201-207.
- Ming X, Rothenburger S, Nichols M. In vivo and in vitro antibacterial efficacy of PDS plus (polidioxanone with triclosan) suture. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2008;9(4):451-457.