India’s commitment to Millennium Development Goal-4 is reflected in a plethora of maternal and child health initiatives under the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) that have led to a steady reduction in child mortality in recent years. As per the Sample Registration Survey 2012, neonatal mortality is a big challenge as it now accounts for 69% of the total infant deaths and 56% of the total under-5 deaths in the country. Nearly 27% of the global burden of newborn deaths takes place in India, and the neonatal mortality rates are higher in rural areas than in urban areas. Bacterial infections are a leading cause of neonatal mortality. According to the Lancet 2012 estimates, neonatal infections or sepsis contribute to 33% of the neonatal deaths (Figure 1). In the second month of life, pneumonia
is the leading cause of death. Thus it is evident that improved survival of young infants [0–2 months] depends greatly on the prevention, detection and treatment of systemic infections [sepsis and pneumonia].