Neonatal Oral Antibiotics at Home (NOAH) project: improving early discharge and family outcomes

Dr David Bartle and Dr Harriet Aughey, Royal Devon University Hospital, present the Neonatal Oral Antibiotics at Home (NOAH) project. Inspired by the results of the RAIN study, which demonstrated the benefits of switching from intravenous to oral antibiotics in newborns and enabling earlier discharge, the NOAH project was developed to support babies with suspected early-onset infection who are eligible to switch to oral antibiotics. The project involved extensive collaboration with local infectious disease teams, maternity and neonatal safety initiatives, and partnerships such as the Maternity and Neonatal Safety Improvement Programme. Supported by the Health Innovation Network South West and PenARC, the pilot has yielded positive outcomes, including reduced hospital bed days, improved parental satisfaction, enhanced bonding, and better breastfeeding rates. Importantly, there have been no adverse events or cases of reinfection. The team is now planning a regional rollout and evaluation, with all project resources available for download to support implementation in other trusts. This interview took place at the RCPCH conference 2025 in Glasgow, Scotland.