Target product profile for aerosolized surfactant therapy in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome in low- and middle-income countries

Overview

Treatment with surfactant improves the survival rate of neonates with respiratory distress syndrome, particularly preterm infants. However, surfactant is usually administered by endotracheal intubation and generally only in level-3 (tertiary) neonatal intensive care units. Recent improvements in aerosolization technology have raised the possibility that aerosolized surfactant could now be given in wider range of settings, including resource-poor settings. Consequently, the World Health Organization has developed a target product profile for product developers that describes the optimal and minimal characteristics of an aerosolized surfactant for treating neonates with respiratory distress syndrome in low- and middle-income countries. This target product profile is now available on the World Health Organization website as listed below.