Zinc as adjunct treatment for clinical severe infection in young infants: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in India and Nepal.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Annually, an estimated 2.3 million infants die within their first month of life, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Infections, including sepsis are among the major contributors to these deaths. Effective interventions added to standard antimicrobial therapy can reduce sepsis mortality. A recent meta-analysis suggests that adjunct zinc treatment of young infants with sepsis could reduce case fatality risk. This study evaluated the efficacy of zinc as an adjunct to antibiotics in young infants with suspected sepsis, defined as clinical severe infection (CSI).

Methods and findings

We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial across seven hospitals in India and Nepal from February 28, 2017, to February 22, 2022. Infants aged 3-59 day

SUBMITTER: Wadhwa N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12527131 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature