A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that a single application of 1% chlorhexidine, a low-cost antiseptic, during labor and shortly after birth could significantly reduce harmful bacteria linked to neonatal sepsis. In a clinical trial involving mothers and newborns in Malawi, the treatment lowered bacterial levels by nearly 3,000-fold in mothers and 16-fold in babies without causing serious side effects. Researchers found that a higher 2% concentration offered no added benefit. Because chlorhexidine is inexpensive and widely available, it could become an effective, scalable strategy to help prevent life-threatening newborn infections, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
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