Can zinc increase survival of young infants receiving antibiotic treatment?

Despite the existence of effective antibiotics, serious infections are among the most common causes of death among babies in the first two months of life. Previous research has found that daily zinc intake can increase the success of antibiotic treatment among infants.

The policy question is whether daily zinc should be added to the treatment of young infants with clinical severe infection in order to increase survival.

We estimate the risk of dying among babies younger than two months who received daily zinc in addition to antibiotics for severe infection compared to babies who received antibiotics.