Chandigarh, 16.10.25-A leading group of Indian neonatologists, spearheaded by Dr. Sourabh Dutta, Professor NICU, PGIMER Chandigarh, published a pivotal study in *Lancet ClinicalMedicine*, demonstrating that shorter antibiotic courses are as effective as longer ones for many serious newborn infections. This breakthrough could reduce antibiotic overuse, lower side effects, and fight antibiotic resistance in vulnerable newborns.

The article, *“Shorter or biomarker-guided antibiotic durations for common serious neonatal infections: a collection of noninferiority meta-analyses,* is publicly available here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(25)00476-6/fulltext. The authors are Dr. Sourabh Dutta (the lead author from PGIMER, Chandigarh), Dr. Nandkishor Kabra (the co-lead author from Surya Hospitals, Mumbai), Dr. Shiv Sajan Saini (PGIMER), Dr. Rajendra Prasad Anne (Kasturba Medical College, Manipal), Dr. Sandeep Kadam (KEM Hospital, Pune), Dr. Monisha Rameshbabu (Chettinad Academy, Chennai), Dr. Supreet Khurana (Government Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh), and Dr. Sai Kiran (Fernandez Hospital, Hyderabad). The study’s significant public-interest potential and disease relevance.
*Why this matters*
Antibiotics save lives, but unnecessary or prolonged use fuels antibiotic resistance and exposes vulnerable newborns to avoidable side effects, longer hospital stays, and higher costs. Premature and sick newborns receive antibiotics more frequently and for longer periods than older children and adults. Pediatricians and newborn specialists have long suspected that shorter courses may suffice in many scenarios, but high-quality, consolidated evidence has been limited—until now.
*What the study did*
Proven blood infection in newborn babies: ~7 days of antibiotics may be sufficient for most cases, instead of the traditionally recommended 10–14 days, without added risk.

Treatment guided by normalization of blood tests: Stopping treatment when “biomarker” blood tests turn negative typically yields shorter courses that are adequate for many newborn infections.

Probable infections: *Evidence comparing 3–4 days vs 5–7 days was equivocal, highlighting the need for further research studies.
*Gaps in evidence:* There were insufficient data to draw firm conclusions for urinary infection, meningitis, and fungal infections. Thus, these are priority areas for future research.
Implications

It is possible to use shorter antibiotic courses for proven blood infections in newborn babies or use courses guided by normalization of blood tests, without any added risks. If the use of shorter courses in appropriate cases is widely adopted, it could help combat antibiotic resistance, limit hospital-acquired infections, and improve resource use—especially in high-burden settings. Funding agencies should prioritize future studies in the identified evidence gaps.