We are pleased to announce that Chiara Minotti, researcher with the NeoIPC project, won first prize in the Early Career Investigator session of the European Society for Pediatric Research at the jENS Congress 2025 in Belgrade.
Her presentation, “Risk factors for antibiotic resistant bacterial colonisation in European neonatal units”, showcased key findings from the NeoIPC feasibility study. Conducted across 24 neonatal intensive care units in 8 European countries, the NeoIPC feasibility study found that:
- 22% of stool samples were positive for at least one antibiotic-resistance gene.
- Both premature and term newborns were found to be colonised.
- Colonisation pressure, i.e. the proportion of already colonised infants in a unit, was a key driver of spread.
- Longer stays on the unit increased the risk of colonisation.
These results show that infection prevention and control measures must target every infant in the unit, not just those at highest risk. Strengthening unit-level IPC strategies could be the key to breaking transmission chains and improving neonatal health.
As part of the award, Chiara will participate in the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) 2026 Congress in Boston, USA, where NeoIPC results will be presented to a global audience of leading paediatricians.