A multi disciplinary partnership to combat neonatal sepsis deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa

Authors

  • Pui-Ying Iroh Tam
  • Felicity Fitzgerald Department of Infectious Diseases
  • Larisse Bolton School for Data Science and Computational Thinking
  • Uduak Okomo
  • Andrew Whitelaw Department of Pathology
  • Angela Dramowski Department of Paediatrics and Child Health
  • NeoNET AFRICA

Keywords:

Multi disciplinary partnership to combat neonatal sepsis deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Neonatal sepsis is a global issue and a leading cause of death in the first 28 days of life1,2especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where 98% of neonatal deaths  occur.3Despite the extremely high burden of neonatal sepsis and associated deaths, data on the causative pathogens, antibiotic resistance profile, and infection impact is lacking from many LMIC.4-6As recently as 2019, not a single African country had published population-level data on neonatal sepsis. The reasons for this include limited access to microbiology laboratories,
poor healthcare infrastructure, and challenges in health care data management.

Author Biographies

  • Pui-Ying Iroh Tam

    International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research,
    Dhaka, Bangladesh

  • Felicity Fitzgerald, Department of Infectious Diseases

    Imperial College London, London,
    United Kingdom

  • Larisse Bolton, School for Data Science and Computational Thinking

    School for Data Science and Computational Thinking,
    South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling
    and Analysis (SACEMA),

  • Uduak Okomo

    Vaccines and Immunity Theme, Medical Research
    Council (MRC) Unit The Gambia at London School of
    Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Fajara, The Gambia

    Clinical Research Department, Faculty of Infectious &
    Tropical Diseases,
    MARCH Centre, London School of Hygiene &
    Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom

  • Andrew Whitelaw, Department of Pathology

    Division of Medical Microbiology & Immunology,
    Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,
    Stellenbosch University,
    National Health Laboratory Service, Tygerberg
    Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

  • Angela Dramowski, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

    Department of Paediatrics and Child Health,
    Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,
    Stellenbosch University, Cape Town,
    South Africa

  • NeoNET AFRICA

    Neo NET AFRICA partnership

References

Oza S, Lawn JE, Hogan DR, Mathers C, Cousens SN. Neonatal cause-of-death estimates for the early and late neonatal periods for 194 countries: 2000–2013. Bull World Health Organ. 2015;93(1):19-28. doi:10.2471/BLT.14.139790

Liu L, Oza S, Hogan D, et al. Global, regional, and national causes of under-5 mortality in 2000–15: an updated systematic analysis with implications for the Sustainable Development Goals. The Lancet. 2016;388(10063):3027-3035. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(16)31593-8

Lawn JE, Blencowe H, Oza S, et al. Every Newborn: progress, priorities, and potential beyond survival. The Lancet.2014;384(9938):189-205. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60496-7

Målqvist M, Eriksson L, Nga NT, et al. Unreported births and deaths, a severe obstacle for improved neonatal survival in low-income countries; a population based study. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2008;8(1):4.doi:10.1186/1472-698X-8-4

Traoré FB, Sidibé CS, Diallo EHM, et al. Prevalence and factors associated with maternal and neonatal sepsis in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Public Health. 2024;12. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2024.1272193

Chaurasia S, Sivanandan S, Agarwal R, Ellis S, Sharland M, Sankar MJ. Neonatal sepsis in South Asia: huge burden and spiralling antimicrobial resistance. BMJ. 2019;364:k5314.

Fleischmann C, Reichert F, Cassini A, et al. Global incidence and mortality of neonatal sepsis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Dis Child. 2021;106(8):745-752. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2020-320217

Kontou A, Kourti M, Iosifidis E, Sarafidis K, Roilides E. Use of Newer and Repurposed Antibiotics against Gram-Negative Bacteria in Neonates. Antibiotics. 2023;12(6):1072. doi:10.3390/antibiotics12061072

Iroh Tam PY, Musicha P, Kawaza K, et al. Emerging Resistance to Empiric Antimicrobial Regimens for Pediatric Bloodstream Infections in Malawi (1998–2017). Clin Infect Dis. 2019;69(1):61-68. doi:10.1093/cid/ciy834

Patel TS, Sati H, Lessa FC, et al. Defining access without excess: expanding appropriate use of antibiotics targeting multidrug-resistant organisms. Lancet Microbe. 2024;5(1):e93-e98. doi:10.1016/S2666-5247(23)00256-2

Laxminarayan R, Matsoso P, Pant S, et al. Access to effective antimicrobials: a worldwide challenge. The Lancet. 2016;387(10014):168-175. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(15)00474-2

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Published

2024-12-03

How to Cite

A multi disciplinary partnership to combat neonatal sepsis deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa. (2024). JOURNAL OF AFRICAN NEONATOLOGY, 2(4), 116 – 118. https://janeonatology.org/index.php/jan/article/view/105

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