A groundbreaking medical study from Prayagraj has sounded a major alarm over the declining effectiveness of antibiotics, posing a severe threat to the health of newborn babies. The research confirms that the unregulated and frequent use of these drugs without proper medical supervision is steadily rendering them useless.
Alarming Findings from Neonatal Sepsis Study
The critical research was conducted jointly by the microbiology and pediatrics departments of Motilal Nehru Medical College. It took place at Sarojini Naidu Children's Hospital over a period stretching from June 2023 to February 2025.
The team examined newborns who were up to 28 days old and had been admitted with suspected sepsis. Out of 427 infants whose blood culture was analysed, a concerning 101 samples tested positive for sepsis. A majority of these infected babies were younger than seven days, highlighting their extreme vulnerability during the early neonatal period.
Pathogens and Sky-High Resistance Rates
The study identified a range of dangerous pathogens in the infected infants. In the initial cultures, Klebsiella pneumoniae was found in 5% of cases, Escherichia coli in 4%, and Staphylococcus aureus in 2%. Adding to the concern, fungal infections were also detected, with 3% of cases showing Candida auris and non-albicans Candida species, both notorious for their drug-resistant nature.
The most startling data emerged on antibiotic resistance. The research recorded a dramatic drop in the potency of several first-line and commonly used drugs:
- Ceftriaxone: 90.2% resistance
- Cefepime: 78.7% resistance
- Ampicillin: 72.1% resistance
- Imipenem: 68.9% resistance
- Meropenem: 63.9% resistance
Even widely prescribed antibiotics like azithromycin and penicillin showed limited benefit, working in only about 85.2% of cases. The study noted that antibiotics commonly used in community settings, such as ciprofloxacin, aminoglycosides, and carbapenems, are rapidly losing their power.
Expert Warnings and the Path Forward
The study was led by Dr Divya Singh under the guidance of Lt Dr Reena Sachan, Dr Manisha Maurya, Dr Mukeshveer Singh, and Dr Garima Gaur.
Dr Reena Sachan, head of the microbiology department at MLN Medical College, highlighted the grave threat. She warned that the indiscriminate use of antibiotics without expert consultation is directly compromising treatment outcomes for the most vulnerable newborns. "If the trend continues, the efficacy of essential antibiotics in neonatal care may diminish entirely," she stated.
Echoing this urgent concern, Dr Manisha Maurya, head of the pediatrics department, stressed that the first 28 days of life are critical. "Antibiotics that were once reliable are now showing reduced impact. This decline demands urgent attention," she emphasized.
The study did find a silver lining: drugs that are used more sparingly and judiciously, such as vancomycin and linezolid, demonstrated higher effectiveness against the infections. This finding underscores the vital importance of controlled and prescription-based antibiotic use to preserve their power for future generations.
