Researchers examined 31 studies involving newborns in low-income and middle-income countries. These studies looked at various strategies to reduce antimicrobial resistance, including regulations, health-care worker training, and responsible antibiotic use. The goal was to see if these actions could lower infection risks and antibiotic use in facility or community settings.
The analysis showed promising links between these strategies and better outcomes. Newborns were less likely to receive antibiotics, and the risk of culture-positive sepsis and multidrug-resistant infections decreased. The risk of overall neonatal mortality also appeared reduced in some contexts. However, the study did not find a significant reduction in the overall risk of neonatal sepsis or mortality specifically due to nosocomial bloodstream infections.
Safety concerns were not reported in the included studies. Despite positive findings, the evidence has limitations, such as delays in reporting test results and challenges with prescribing for newborns with sepsis-like symptoms. The authors note that interventions targeting antibiotic control alone will not suffice to improve clinical outcomes. Readers should view these results as informative for developing care programs rather than as definitive proof of effectiveness.