Severe malaria-bacterial sepsis co-infection among critically ill children admitted to pediatric emergency…

Cohort studyWorld journal of clinical pediatrics· Sep 2026

Severe malaria-bacterial sepsis co-infection among critically ill children admitted to pediatric emergency departments in Kinshasa.

Mamy-Gloire Monkoti Manzi, Celestin Nsibu, Joseph Bodi, Philippe Jouvet

Pediatric Emergency MedicineCohort studyQ1IF 2.9

Bacterial sepsis co-infection found in 11.5% of children with severe malaria

Severe malaria-bacterial sepsis co-infection among critically ill children admitted to pediatric emergency departments in Kinshasa.

Mamy-Gloire Monkoti Manzi … Philippe Jouvet

World journal of clinical pediatrics · Sep 2026

Background

Severe malaria remains a major cause of pediatric critical illness and early mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.

Purpose

To determine the frequency of severe malaria-bacterial sepsis co-infection and identify the associated clinical and biological factors among critically ill children.

Methods

This prospective multicenter observational study was conducted from September 2014 to September 2015 in four pediatric emergency departments in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

n = 138 children

Results

11.5%

about 1 in 9 severe malaria cases also had bloodstream bacterial infection, worsening early survival

n = 138 children

More results

Among 138 children admitted with life-threatening conditions, 96 (69.6%) had confirmed severe malaria.

In univariate analysis, respiratory distress, splenomegaly, and hypoglycemia were more frequent among co-infected children.

In multivariable analysis, respiratory distress remained independently associated with bacterial co-infection.

More results

Early mortality in the emergency department was higher among co-infected children than among those without co-infection.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

Severe malaria-bacterial sepsis co-infection is relatively frequent among critically ill children in Kinshasa and is associated with poorer early outcomes.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Early and systematic assessment for sepsis at admission may help improve the initial management of children in pediatric emergency settings.

Severe malaria-bacterial sepsis co-infection among critically ill children admitted to pediatric emergency departments in Kinshasa.

Severe malaria-bacterial sepsis co-infection among critically ill children admitted to pediatric emergency departments in Kinshasa.

Related papers