Pathogen aetiology and risk factors for death among neonates with bloodstream infections at lower-tier South African hospitals: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Infections are among the top causes of neonatal mortality, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of neonates diagnosed with culture-confirmed bloodstream infections at six lower-tier hospitals in South Africa.

Methods: We did a cross-sectional study of culture-confirmed bloodstream infections among neonates (aged 0-27 days) at six lower-tier hospitals in South Africa.

Study protocol for a population-based observational surveillance study of culture-confirmed neonatal bloodstream infections and meningitis in South Africa: Baby GERMS-SA.

Introduction: Worldwide, neonatal mortality remains high accounting for 47% of childhood deaths in 2019 and including an estimated 500 000 deaths from neonatal infections. While 42% of global neonatal deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa, there is limited understanding of population-level burden and aetiology of neonatal infections outside tertiary-level institutions.

Methods And Analysis: We aim to implement the first population-level surveillance for bloodstream infections and meningitis among neonates aged <28 days in South Africa.