Abstract
Abstract Background The Sars-CoV-2 pandemic catalysed integration of digital health models worldwide. This review appraises literature investigating digital methods of identifying SSI post discharge, and summarises effectiveness using diagnostic test accuracy measures. Methods Databases were searched for telemedicine and wound infection studies. Titles and abstracts, followed by full texts, were screened by two independent authors and mediated by a third. QUADAS-2 was used to assess methodological quality. The primary outcome was summary sensitivity and specificity. Results Of 1400 studies identified by searching, 17 studies were included in meta-analysis. There were 11,437 observations available with a weighted mean age of participants of 47.1 years. Risk of bias was present in all included studies, and there were high applicability concerns in nine studies. The mean sensitivity of all methods of telemedical follow up for detecting SSI was 88% (95% CI 68%-96%) and the mean specificity 97% (95% CI 94%-98%). The overall rate of SSI was 5.6% across studies. Conclusion Telemedicine is highly specific for SSI diagnosis, with potential as a screening tool post discharge. However, participants were young, and may under-represent the surgical population. Work is required to maximise engagement with telemedicine in the elderly and digitally naive before widespread adoption can occur.
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