Early-onset neonatal sepsis in low- and middle-income countries: current challenges and future opportunities

Sands, Kirsty, Spiller, Owen B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9117-6911, Thomson, Kathryn, Portal, Edward A. R., Iregbu, Kenneth C. and Walsh, Timothy R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4315-4096 2022. Early-onset neonatal sepsis in low- and middle-income countries: current challenges and future opportunities. Infection and Drug Resistance 2022 , 933—946. 10.2147/IDR.S294156

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Abstract

Neonatal sepsis is defined as a systemic infection within the first 28 days of life, with early-onset sepsis (EOS) occurring within the first 72h, although the definition of EOS varies in literature. Whilst the global incidence has dramatically reduced over the last decade, neonatal sepsis remains an important cause of neonatal mortality, highest in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Symptoms at the onset of neonatal sepsis can be subtle, and therefore EOS is often difficult to diagnose from clinical presentation and laboratory testing and blood cultures are not always conclusive or accessible, especially in resource limited countries. Although the World Health Organisation (WHO) currently advocates a ß-lactam, and gentamicin for first line treatment, availability and cost influence the empirical antibiotic therapy administered. Antibiotic treatment of neonatal sepsis in LMICs is highly variable, partially caused by factors such as cost of antibiotics (and who pays for them) and access to certain antibiotics. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has increased considerably over the past decade and this review discusses current microbiology data available in the context of the diagnosis, and treatment for EOS. Importantly, this review highlights a large variability in data availability, methodology, availability of diagnostics, and aetiology of sepsis pathogens.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Additional Information:	The full terms of this license are available at https://www.dovepress.com/terms. php and incorporate the Creative Commons Attribution – Non Commercial (unported, v3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/).
Publisher:	Dove Press
ISSN:	1178-6973
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	16 March 2022
Date of Acceptance:	17 February 2022
Last Modified:	14 Aug 2023 17:53
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/148416

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