Dr. Reenu Thomas

Reenu Thomas is a South African clinician-researcher in pediatric infectious diseases with strong ties to tertiary academic hospitals in Johannesburg, including Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital and the University of the Witwatersrand. Her work centers on neonatal and pediatric infections, antimicrobial resistance, and stewardship in resource-constrained settings, contributing to both national and global research collaborations.

Her research focuses on neonatal sepsis epidemiology, antimicrobial prescribing patterns, and the burden of healthcare-associated infections. Through large observational cohorts such as NeoOBS and multicenter point prevalence surveys, she has examined pathogen profiles, resistance trends, and risk factors driving broad-spectrum antibiotic use, while also contributing to the development of clinical severity and recovery tools.

Thomas’s publications highlight rising Gram-negative resistance, carbapenem use, and the long-term neurodevelopmental impact of serious neonatal infections. She also advances antimicrobial stewardship implementation in neonatal units, emphasizing multidisciplinary approaches and context-specific strategies. Collectively, her work informs policy, strengthens stewardship programs, and supports the design of pragmatic trials to improve outcomes for vulnerable infants and children.