A study published in The Lancet Global Health has found that more than a third of newborns diagnosed with sepsis in district hospitals across India could succumb to the life-threatening condition.

The research, conducted across five district hospitals, analyzed data from over 6,600 newborns. It revealed that sepsis incidence ranged from 0.6% to 10% in these hospitals, with higher rates among newborns referred from other facilities compared to those born at the same hospital.

Experts emphasized the urgent need to strengthen infection prevention and control measures. The study also highlighted the importance of implementing programs for the judicious use of antibiotics to combat neonatal sepsis effectively.