Global prevalence of infections in newborns with respiratory complications: systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and Objectives: Newborns as a vulnerable population are exposed to congenital and acquired infections during and after birth. There are several reports of the isolation and reporting of infectious agents (IAs) in early life of newborns with respiratory manifestations, and the present comprehensive study provides a snapshot of the current global situation of the prevalence of IAs in newborns with respiratory symptoms. Materials and Methods: A systematic search was conducted in main databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of science, and Google scholar. The pooled prevalence of infectious agents (IAs) in newborns was estimated using comprehensive me- ta-analysis software based on random effects model. Results: Out of 44 inclusive studies (50 datasets) for IAs in newborns, the pooled prevalence was estimated to be 12.2% (95% CI: 6.40-22.0%) and the highest and lowest prevalence of IAs was related to the Brazil (78.2%, 95% CI: 31.0-96.6%), and UK (0.01%, 95% CI 0.01-0.01%) respectively. Conclusion: The high prevalence of IAs in newborns emphasizes considers the necessary measures to prevent respiratory infections.