A newly published study from the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP), and the University of Liverpool has provided the strongest evidence to date that structured infection prevention and control systems save the lives of mothers and expecting mothers. Released in the New England Journal of Medicine, the research shows that implementing a sustainable, system-wide approach to infection prevention and control (IPC) reduced severe maternal infections and deaths by 30% compared to usual care.
This publication arrives at a time when maternal infections remain a persistent global threat.  As hospitals work to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), the findings offer a clear path forward. When frontline healthcare workers are supported with evidence-based guidelines and protocols, along with reliable tools and consistent workflows, maternal outcomes improve dramatically.
The Global Burden of MSMIs: A Persistent Challenge for Maternal Health
Maternal sepsis and other maternal infections (MSMIs) continue to be major contributors to maternal and neonatal mortality. MSMIs include maternal sepsis during or following childbirth, obstetrical wound infections, infections related to pregnancy, and breast infections associated with lactation. These conditions are responsible for substantial morbidity and are a leading cause of preventable maternal death worldwide.
Maternal sepsis contributes to 10.7% of maternal deaths globally, underscoring its position as one of the primary causes of mortality related to pregnancy and childbirth. Beyond the maternal impact, maternal infections also contribute to neonatal complications such as respiratory distress syndrome, fetal growth restriction, and developmental disabilities. An estimated 1 million neonatal deaths each year can be traced back to maternal infection or sepsis. These numbers reflect widespread, ongoing gaps in early detection, timely treatment, and a lack of standardized infection prevention practices.
A Proven Model for Infection Prevention & Control
Against this backdrop, the WHO-led trial offers compelling evidence of what structured IPC can achieve. The Active Prevention and Treatment of Maternal Sepsis (APT-Sepsis) program was implemented across 59 hospitals in Malawi and Uganda, which involved over 431,000 women giving birth. The results were decisive: hospitals using the APT-Sepsis system achieved a “32% reduction in infection-related maternal mortality and severe morbidity.”
This improvement was driven by several components. First, maternity teams received the necessary support to “follow WHO’s ‘five moments for hand hygiene,'” ensuring that prevention practices remained ingrained across every stage of patient care. Second, applying WHO guidance on infection prevention made way for improvements in “hand hygiene compliance, antibiotic prophylaxis during caesarean sections and routine vital sign monitoring.” Third, the program strengthened maternal sepsis management using the FAST-M bundle:
- Fluids
- Antibiotics
- Source control
- Transfer (if needed)
- Monitoring
This standardized bundle ensures that no critical step is missed—an essential safeguard in healthcare settings where delays or gaps in care can cost lives.
What proved most transformative was the systems-based approach. The APT-Sepsis program showed how even healthcare environments with limited resources and support can provide sustainable infection prevention. As public health authorities emphasized, the program demonstrates what is possible when science, policy, and quality care are aligned around a shared objective: preventing maternal deaths through consistent, evidence-based best practices.
Where Technology Supports Safer Maternal Care
As practitioners work to strengthen infection prevention and control practices, environmental hygiene remains essential. Environmental surfaces are well-documented vectors for disease spread, especially in high-touch, high-traffic environments. This includes bacteria and respiratory viruses capable of surviving on screens, keyboards, and mobile devices. When these tools aren’t designed for disinfection or fail due to consistent cleaning protocols, they can undermine otherwise strong infection prevention measures and patient care.
Seal Shield’s Infection Control Suite—including fully washable keyboards, fully washable mice, disinfectant-ready screen protectors, and UV-C sanitization systems for mobile devices—are built for environments where hand hygiene and environmental cleaning are essential. These tools are designed to help public health professionals reinforce foundational IPC practices across the care continuum.
How Seal Shield Solutions Can Support Infection Prevention and Control in Maternal Settings
Health care providers move devices and equipment all around the hospital, presenting a risk of cross-contamination. Healthcare-purposed technology can support cleaner workflows and help reduce the chances of transmitting pathogens.
- Washable keyboards and mice: Built to IP65-IP68 standards, these devices are fully submersible and compatible with industrial-grade disinfectants used in healthcare facilities — meaning they can be cleaned without damaging them. 
- UV-C sanitization systems: employ 360-degree UV-C light cycles to rapidly inactivate pathogens by 99.9% on mobile devices and high-touch items, delivering deep sanitization in as little as 20–60 seconds — a suite-level solution for device hygiene that avoids chemical degradation of equipment. They are ideal for visitors entering NICUs or hospital staff managing shared or organization-owned devices.
- Clean Seal Screen Protectors: constructed with a multilayer, impact-resistant film. They’re disinfectant-ready, allowing for safe cleaning with harsh chemicals, without compromising device functionality or clarity.
By integrating disinfectant-compatible devices into maternal care settings, healthcare organizations can support the very same structured IPC practices emphasized by WHO—reinforcing hand hygiene, ensuring clean equipment, and promoting patient safety.
A Path Forward for Healthcare Organizations
The WHO’s new findings show that maternal infections are preventable, and consistent application of evidence-based infection-prevention systems are key to success. As health systems refine their safety strategies, solutions that support reliable cleaning practices and durable device hygiene can strengthen their efforts.
Seal Shield’s Infection Control Suite offers healthcare professionals tools that complement routine practices and can help reduce cross-contamination risks across maternal care environments. By reinforcing environmental hygiene, these technologies can support the structured, sustainable infection-prevention practices essential for improving maternal outcomes.
To explore how Seal Shield’s cleanable, durable technologies can support your IPC strategy, connect with us to learn more.
