Estimates of possible severe bacterial infection in neonates in sub-Saharan Africa, south Asia, and Latin America for 2012: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Anna C. Seale, Hannah Blencowe, Alexander A. Manu, Harish Nair, Rajiv Bahl, Shamim A. Qazi, Anita K. Zaidi, James A. Berkley, Simon N. Cousens, Joy E. Lawn, Dwi Agustian, Fernando Althabe, Eduardo Azziz-Baumgartner, Abdullah H. Baqui, Daniel G. Bausch, Jose M. Belizan, Zulfi Qar Bhutta, Robert E. Black, Shobha Broor, Nigel BrucePierre Buekens, Harry Campbell, Waldemar A. Carlo, Elwyn Chomba, Anthony Costello, Richard J. Derman, Mukesh Dherani, Shams El-Arifeen, Cyril Engmann, Fabian Esamai, Hammad Ganatra, Ana Garcés, Bradford D. Gessner, Christopher Gill, Robert L. Goldenberg, Shivaprasad S. Goudar, K. Michael Hambidge, Davidson H. Hamer, Nellie I. Hansen, Patricia L. Hibberd, Sudhir Khanal, Betty Kirkwood, Patrick Kosgei, Marion Koso-Thomas, Edward A. Liechty, Elizabeth M. McClure, Dipak Mitra, Neema Mturi, Luke C. Mullany, Charles R. Newton, Francois Nosten, Shama Parveen, Archana Patel, Candice Romero, Naomi Saville, Katherine Semrau, Eric A.F. Simões, Sajid Soofi, Barbara J. Stoll, Shiyam Sunder, Sana Syed, James M. Tielsch, Yeny O. Tinoco, Claudia Turner, Stefania Vergnano

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220 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Bacterial infections are a leading cause of the 2·9 million annual neonatal deaths. Treatment is usually based on clinical diagnosis of possible severe bacterial infection (pSBI). To guide programme planning, we have undertaken the first estimates of neonatal pSBI, by sex and by region, for sub-Saharan Africa, south Asia, and Latin America. Methods: We included data for pSBI incidence in neonates of 32 weeks' gestation or more (or birthweight ≥1500 g) with livebirth denominator data, undertaking a systematic review and forming an investigator group to obtain unpublished data. We calculated pooled risk estimates for neonatal pSBI and case fatality risk, by sex and by region. We then applied these risk estimates to estimates of livebirths in sub-Saharan Africa, south Asia, and Latin America to estimate cases and associated deaths in 2012. Findings: We included data from 22 studies, for 259 944 neonates and 20 196 pSBI cases, with most of the data (18 of the 22 studies) coming from the investigator group. The pooled estimate of pSBI incidence risk was 7·6% (95% CI 6·1-9·2%) and the case-fatality risk associated with pSBI was 9·8% (7·4-12·2). We estimated that in 2012 there were 6·9 million cases (uncertainty range 5·5 million-8·3 million) of pSBI in neonates needing treatment: 3·5 million (2·8 million-4·2 million) in south Asia, 2·6 million (2·1 million-3·1 million) in sub-Saharan Africa, and 0·8 million (0·7 million-1·0 million) in Latin America. The risk of pSBI was greater in boys (risk ratio 1·12, 95% CI 1·06-1·18) than girls. We estimated that there were 0·68 million (0·46 million-0·92 million) neonatal deaths associated with pSBI in 2012. Interpretation: The need-to-treat population for pSBI in these three regions is high, with ten cases of pSBI diagnosed for each associated neonatal death. Deaths and disability can be reduced through improved prevention, detection, and case management. Funding: The Wellcome Trust and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation through grants to Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group (CHERG) and Save the Children's Saving Newborn Lives programme.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)731-741
Number of pages11
JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases
Volume14
Issue number8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2014

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