Bacterial Infections in Neonates, Madagascar, 2012-2014

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Bich-Tram Huynh, Elsa Kermorvant-Duchemin, Perlinot Herindrainy

    Emerging Infectious Diseases
    |March 20, 2018
    PubMed

    Insights

    Severe bacterial infections in newborns are a major cause of death in low-income nations. This study in Madagascar found a high incidence of multidrug-resistant infections, highlighting the urgent need for better prevention and treatment strategies.

    Area of Science:

    • Global Health
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Neonatal Care

    Background:

    • Severe bacterial infections pose a significant threat to neonates in low-income countries, exacerbated by the rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria.
    • Limited community-based data exists on the incidence, causes, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of neonatal infections in these regions.
    • Madagascar, a low-income country, faces challenges in combating neonatal infections due to various contributing factors.

    Observation:

    • A prospective community-based study in Madagascar investigated 981 newborns between 2012 and 2014.
    • The study assessed the incidence, etiologies, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of severe neonatal infections in both rural and urban settings.
    • Data collection focused on culture-confirmed infections to accurately determine bacterial causes and resistance.

    Findings:

    • The incidence of culture-confirmed severe neonatal infections was high at 17.7 cases per 1,000 live births.
    • A significant majority (75%) of these infections occurred within the first week of a neonate's life.
    • Gram-negative bacteria were the predominant pathogens (81%), and the incidence of multidrug-resistant neonatal infections was notably high at 7.7 cases per 1,000 live births.

    Implications:

    • Findings underscore the critical need for prioritized interventions in Madagascar to reduce neonatal infections.
    • Enhanced strategies for prevention, early diagnosis, and effective management of bacterial infections in newborns are essential.
    • The high rate of multidrug-resistant infections necessitates a focus on antimicrobial stewardship and the development of new treatment options.

    Keywords:
    Madagascarantimicrobial resistancebacteriabacterial infectiondeveloping countriesdrug resistanceinfantlow-income countriesneonatenewborn

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