Neonatal Infectious Disease: A Major Contributor to Infant Mortality Requiring Advances in Point-of-Care Diagnosis

Mary Garvey1,2

  • 1Department of Life Science, Atlantic Technological University, F91 YW50 Sligo, Ireland.

PubMed

Insights

Neonatal infectious diseases pose significant risks to infants, especially with antimicrobial resistance. Novel point-of-care diagnostics show promise for early and accurate detection, improving infant outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • Neonatal infectious diseases contribute to high infant morbidity and mortality.
  • Antimicrobial resistance complicates the detection and treatment of neonatal infections.
  • Preterm infants and those with risk factors like central catheters are more susceptible.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review neonatal infectious disease, focusing on antimicrobial resistance.
  • To highlight novel point-of-care diagnostic options for early detection.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review on neonatal infectious disease and diagnostic technologies.
  • Discussion of emerging diagnostic tools like biomarkers, AI, and biosensors.
  • Focus on point-of-care devices for rapid diagnostics.

Main Results:

  • Current blood culture diagnostics are unreliable and time-consuming.
  • There is a critical need for accurate and rapid diagnostic tools for neonatal infections.
  • Emerging technologies offer potential for improved diagnostic accuracy and speed.

Conclusions:

  • Point-of-care devices can provide fast, reliable, and accurate diagnostic aids for neonates.
  • Advancements in diagnostics are crucial for timely intervention in neonatal infectious disease.
  • Addressing antimicrobial resistance requires improved diagnostic capabilities.