Investigating Neonatal Sepsis in Nigeria: Matters Arising

Neonatal deaths represents one of the greatest challenges to Nigeria’s health outcomes, as MDG 4 of reducing infant deaths by two-thirds was one of the few goals the country failed to meet by 2015. Neonatal sepsis, bacterial infections present the bloodstream, accounts for 30% of all infant deaths in Nigeria. These infections are either spread via the birth canal or placenta during childbirth from mother to baby, or are nosocomial and a result of the environment. Most studies found a sepsis-positivity rate of around 20%, with the most common organisms being Staph Aureus, Coagulase-Negative Staph, Klebsiella and E.Coli.
Improved infection prevention and control measures must be implemented to decrease the prevalence of rare bacterial species in this setting. Isolation of 17 unique bacterial species causing and increased distance between sick patients are some ways that the high rates of infection and mortality can be combated. Clear guidelines for the prescription and administration of powerful antibiotics to these neonates must be implemented to slow the rapid rates of antibiotic resistance.

Keywords: Neonatal; sepsis; bacteria factions; anitbiotic resistance; meropenem.