KEMRI launches major push to tackle rising Neonatal Sepsis and drug resistance
By Yaa Juma, reporter, Jumuiya News
Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) scientists have raised fresh concern over the growing threat of neonatal sepsis and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), as new research shows current treatment options for newborns are becoming increasingly ineffective. Dr. Christina Obiero, a Research Scientist at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, says decades-old antibiotics used in hospitals can no longer keep pace with fast-emerging resistant bacteria, putting thousands of newborns at risk.
“Neonatal sepsis remains one of the leading causes of infant deaths, especially in Africa. Yet the antibiotics we rely on were developed many years ago and are losing their effectiveness,” Dr. Obiero said in an interview. To address this gap, KEMRI is participating in the NeoSep1 Trial, a multi-country study led by the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership (GARDP). The trial aims to identify safe, effective and affordable antibiotic combinations for newborns within the first 28 days of life.
What is Neonatal Sepsis?
Neonatal sepsis is a severe bloodstream infection that occurs in babies within the first 28 days of life. It happens when harmful bacteria enter a newborn’s body, often through the umbilical cord, the birth canal during delivery, or the environment after birth and spread rapidly. Because newborns have immature immune systems, even a small infection can escalate quickly, leading to widespread inflammation, organ failure, and death if not treated immediately. The condition can present with non-specific signs such as poor feeding, fever or low temperature, difficulty breathing, irritability, or unusual sleepiness, which makes early diagnosis challenging.
NeoSep1 is testing optimised drug combinations such as flomoxef, fosfomycin and amikacin, tailored specifically for newborns. Unlike previous research, which often evaluated single antibiotics, the trial assesses combinations and dosing regimens shaped by local disease patterns. The study is expected to recruit about 600 Kenyan newborns across Kilifi County Referral Hospital, Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital, and Mbagathi Hospital. Globally, 3,000 babies will participate.
In its first phase, NeoSep1 enrolled 65 newborns in Kenya and South Africa to determine the safety and appropriate dosing of the antibiotic combinations. These results have now cleared the way for the second phase, where babies with moderate or high-risk sepsis will be randomised to eight different treatment combinations. “These insights are helping us refine treatment protocols and will guide future trials focused on optimal dosing and reducing resistance,” Dr. Obiero said.
Results expected to influence WHO guidelines
Findings from the NeoSep1 Trial are expected to shape updates to global neonatal sepsis treatment guidelines, including those used by the World Health Organisation. Dr. Obiero says the research will also strengthen Africa’s capacity to respond to AMR through better surveillance, improved diagnostics, and investment in newborn and maternal health.
NeoSep1 is anchored within the Severe Neonatal Infection Adaptive Platform Trials in Africa (SNIP-Africa) project, a network of partners across the Global South and North working to tackle neonatal infections and AMR. By testing antibiotics in real-world African settings, researchers hope to ensure that the resulting treatments are affordable, accessible and appropriate for health systems with limited resources. “It’s not just about scientific discovery. It’s about ensuring equity — that lifesaving medicines reach the babies who need them most,” Dr. Obiero emphasised.
Recently, the world marked World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week 2025 under the theme “Act Now: Protect Our Present, Secure Our Future”. According to KEMRI, neonatal sepsis must remain a priority. Globally, one in five newborn deaths is linked to infections such as sepsis, and AMR threatens to make these infections even harder to treat. Through the NeoSep1 Trial and broader partnerships, KEMRI hopes to reduce newborn deaths and safeguard the effectiveness of essential antibiotics for future generations.
Source : KEMRI launches major push to tackle rising Neonatal Sepsis and drug resistance