Despite substantial global decline in childhood mortality rates, equivalent progress in neonatal mortality reduction has not been achieved. Severe bacterial infection affects 6.9 million neonates and causes an estimated 750 000 deaths in low-middle income countries (LMIC) annually, substantially exceeding other infectious disease-related deaths. New approaches to sepsis prevention for hospitalized and preterm newborns in LMIC are urgently needed as antimicrobial resistance threatens the few remaining therapeutic options. The paucity of data on neonatal sepsis epidemiology is an additional obstacle to development of infection prevention interventions for low-resource settings. Care bundles are evidence-based strategies targeting healthcare-associated infections; bundles are widely- adopted and effective in high-income countries, especially in adult intensive care populations. A care bundled approach for neonatal sepsis prevention in LMIC has great potential; it is likely to be cost-effective, culturally-acceptable, empowering for mothers and potentially applicable in both hospital and community- based settings. Possible bundle elements could include emollient application, chlorhexidine gluconate body washing, promotion of a clean newborn environment, safe intravenous access and improved hand hygiene among neonatal caregivers. Our research programme entails an initial surveillance phase to better characterize the epidemiology of bacterial sepsis in hospitalized South African neonates. A series of observational studies will establish the dynamics and determinants of neonatal bacterial colonization and infection. The acceptability, feasibility and compliance indicators for at least five potential elements of a ?neonatal sepsis prevention care bundle' will be determined. A final phase will measure the feasibility and acceptability of the bundle in two observational hospital cohorts of 50 infants each. The overall impact of this research will include an advanced understanding of the epidemiology of hospital-onset sepsis in South African neonates and development of a ?neonatal sepsis prevention care bundle? for low-resource settings.

Public Health Relevance

Three-quarters of a million babies die from bacterial infections annually, mostly in low- to middle-income countries. New approaches to prevent infection in hospitalized newborns are needed to reduce mortality, especially among preterm and low-birth weight babies. Our research will develop a neonatal sepsis prevention care bundle for use in low-resource settings and test the feasibility and acceptability of this strategy in hospitalized South African newborns.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Fogarty International Center (FIC)
Project #
5K43TW010682-03
Application #
9696017
Study Section
International and Cooperative Projects - 1 Study Section (ICP1)
Program Officer
Povlich, Laura
Project Start
2017-08-22
Project End
2021-03-31
Budget Start
2019-04-01
Budget End
2020-03-31
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
2019
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Stellenbosch University Tygerberg Campus
Department
Type
DUNS #
569118040
City
Cape Town
State
Country
South Africa
Zip Code
8000