Erasmus MC, a university medical center in Rotterdam, has launched a DNA testing program for premature babies to identify those at risk of hearing damage from certain antibiotics, according to RTL.nl. The hospital began the initiative to prevent deafness caused by standard treatments for infections in newborns.
The test screens preterm infants for a genetic susceptibility that makes them more vulnerable to the ototoxic effects of aminoglycoside antibiotics, a common class of drugs used in neonatal intensive care. RTL.nl reports that the hospital is using the DNA results to guide treatment decisions, allowing doctors to switch to safer alternatives for babies who test positive for the risk variant.
The move follows growing evidence that genetic screening can reduce the incidence of drug-induced hearing loss in vulnerable populations. According to the Dutch broadcaster, the program at Erasmus MC is among the first in the country to integrate this type of rapid genetic testing into routine care for premature infants. The hospital aims to protect newborns from permanent hearing impairment that could otherwise affect their speech and language development.
Other Dutch outlets, including nu.nl and de Volkskrant, have also covered the launch, noting that the test is specifically designed for babies born too early, who often require antibiotics to fight infections in their first weeks of life. The screening is expected to become a standard part of neonatal care at the hospital, with results available quickly enough to influence immediate treatment choices.
What to watch next: Whether other Dutch hospitals adopt similar DNA-based screening protocols for their neonatal units, and how the program impacts long-term hearing outcomes in treated infants.
