THE renowned global health researcher, Dr Victor Oluwatomiwa Ajekiigbe, has warned that Nigeria may be facing a growing public health challenge as drug-resistant bacterial infections increasingly threaten the survival of newborns. The warning is based on new research that links the rising burden to widespread antibiotic misuse, weak health systems, and inadequate regulatory enforcement.

The notable study, published in Discover Public Health, warned that antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is making commonly prescribed antibiotics less effective against neonatal infections, particularly sepsis, one of the leading causes of illness and death among newborns.

The review was led by Dr Victor Ajekiigbe, a medical doctor, public health researcher, and research leader at Imperial Academy of Researchers and Helix Biogen Institute, together with Dr Chidera Stanley Anthony and nine other researchers.

The researchers found that multidrug-resistant organisms, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, are increasingly responsible for neonatal infections across Nigeria. Many of these organisms are now resistant to commonly used first-line antibiotics such as ampicillin, gentamicin, and ceftriaxone.

According to Dr Ajekiigbe and his research team, bacterial sepsis remains a major contributor to newborn deaths, with studies in Nigerian hospitals reporting prevalence rates ranging from 30 to 70 per cent.

The research team warned that increasing resistance to commonly used antibiotics is making treatment more difficult and reducing the chances of survival for affected newborns.

Dr Ajekiigbe said the findings highlight the urgent need to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship, improve laboratory services, and invest in maternal and newborn healthcare to reduce preventable deaths.

The review identified indiscriminate use of antibiotics, self-medication, over-the-counter access to prescription medicines, inadequate diagnostic facilities, poor infection prevention and control practices, and weak antimicrobial stewardship programmes as major drivers of the problem.

It also highlighted the role of maternal health, noting that inappropriate antibiotic use during pregnancy and untreated maternal infections may contribute to the transmission of resistant bacteria from mothers to their babies during childbirth.

The researchers observed that many healthcare facilities, particularly in underserved communities, lack the laboratory capacity needed to rapidly identify infectious organisms and guide appropriate antibiotic treatment. As a result, healthcare providers often rely on broad-spectrum antibiotics, a practice that may further increase antimicrobial resistance.

Beyond the health sector, the study linked poverty, poor sanitation, limited access to quality healthcare, and inadequate public understanding of antibiotic use to the continued spread of resistant microorganisms.

READ ALSO: Hepatitis silent disease on the prowl in Nigeria — Expert

Although Nigeria has adopted a National Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance and introduced measures to strengthen antimicrobial stewardship, Dr Ajekiigbe and his colleagues said implementation has remained inconsistent because of weak enforcement, limited surveillance, and inadequate investment in healthcare infrastructure.

The research team cautioned that failure to reverse the current trend could result in higher neonatal mortality, longer hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and fewer treatment options for severe bacterial infections.

They also warned that antimicrobial resistance poses wider regional health security concerns because resistant organisms can spread easily across communities and national borders.

To address the challenge, the researchers recommended expanding access to quality laboratory services, strengthening infection prevention and control systems, enforcing regulations on antibiotic distribution and prescribing, improving maternal and newborn healthcare, and promoting public education on the responsible use of antibiotics.

Dr Ajekiigbe and his team also called for greater investment in antimicrobial resistance surveillance, research into alternative treatment options, and stronger collaboration among governments and health institutions across Sub-Saharan Africa.

They concluded that preserving the effectiveness of existing antibiotics will require sustained commitment from policymakers, healthcare professionals, regulatory agencies, and the public. They warned that delaying action could further increase preventable newborn deaths in Nigeria.

Dr Ajekiigbe has authored more than 70 peer-reviewed scientific publications and collaborated with researchers from over 20 countries. He serves in a research leadership role at Helix Biogen Institute and is co-founder of the Imperial Academy of Researchers, where he has supported the research training and mentorship of more than 500 early-career researchers across Africa.