Scientists have revealed a new antibiotic that is safe to treat babies with a blood infection called neonatal sepsis.

Neonatal sepsis is a life-threatening blood infection that affects infants younger than three months, and requires prompt detection and treatment.

Clinical studies in Kenya show a dose of the antibiotic, Fosfomycin, is safe for babies with neonatal sepsis, which is usually caused by bacteria.

The NeoFosfo trial indicated that this is a significant development, as there are very few antibiotics specifically licensed to treat multidrug-resistant infections in babies.

The trial investigated the safety of Fosfomycin in 120 babies aged under 28 days who were hospitalised with clinically diagnosed sepsis at the Kilifi County hospital.

The trial was sponsored by the Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative.

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