New Kenyan research highlights critical gaps in child diagnostics, revealing inadequate testing and rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among hospitalized children. This study's findings coincide with World Patient Safety Day, emphasizing the urgent need for improved diagnostic capacity to ensure safe care for newborns and children.

• Only 4 in 10 children had laboratory cultures requested, with just 17% receiving full antibiotic sensitivity testing.
• The study, led by PhD Fellow Dr. Veronicah Chuchu of the University of Nairobi’s Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (CEMA), examined 1,608 medical records from 2017 to 2021.
• Over 70% of samples showed bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics, with nearly 30% being extensively drug-resistant, leading to limited treatment options.