Effect of Zinc as an Adjuvant Therapy for the Treatment of Neonatal Sepsis (NS) in Bangladesh

Rationale: More than one-quarter of neonatal deaths are due to neonatal sepsis (NS). NS is usually treated with parenteral and oral antibiotics but case fatality rates are high. It was shown that Zinc ions are crucial for multiple aspects of the immune system, including the normal development, differentiation, and function of cells belonging to both innate and acquired immunity. Modulation of immune response by oral Zinc supplementation is considered as a single approach for multiple diseases. There has not been any study to investigate the effect of Zinc as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of NS.

Approach: The study is a hospital-based randomized clinical trial will compare outcomes from treatment group A (230 NS cases receiving antibiotics and placebo) with treatment group B (230 NS cases receiving antibiotics and Zn). The outcomes will include recovery rate, time needed for achieving clinical improvement, duration of illness, adverse effects etc.

Objective and impact: The primary purpose of the study is to document the efficacy of Zinc as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of NS. If Zinc is found to be efficacious in the treatment of sepsis it could present a much needed cost-effective approach to decreasing the morbidity, mortality and the economic cost associated with NS not only in Bangladesh but also in other developing countries.

Innovation: The use of Zinc as an adjuvant therapy is not new but this study is using it for the treatment of NS for the first time.