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Article
Canada’s approach to SARS-CoV-2 sero-surveillance: Lessons learned for routine surveillance and future pandemics
In Canada’s federated healthcare system, 13 provincial and territorial jurisdictions have independent responsibility to collect data to inform health policies. During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2023), nationa...
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Article
Open AccessCore sepsis-related competencies for medical students: an international consensus by Delphi technique
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition which may arise from infection in any organ system and requires early recognition and management. Healthcare professionals working in any specialty may need to manage pat...
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Article
Open AccessFactors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in unvaccinated children and young adults
Pediatric COVID-19 cases are often mild or asymptomatic, which has complicated estimations of disease burden using existing testing practices. We aimed to determine the age-specific population seropositivity a...
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Article
Open AccessExtraction-free clinical detection of SARS-CoV-2 virus from saline gargle samples using Hamilton STARlet liquid handler
As part of the COVID-19 pandemic, clinical laboratories have been faced with massive increases in testing, resulting in sample collection systems, reagent, and staff shortages. We utilized self-collected salin...
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Article
Open AccessChallenges and recommendations to improve implementation of phototherapy among neonates in Malawian hospitals
Severe neonatal jaundice can result in long term morbidities and mortality when left untreated. Phototherapy is the main-stay intervention for treating moderate jaundice and for prevention of the development o...
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Article
Open AccessHealthcare worker perspectives on mother’s insufficient milk supply in Malawi
Human milk insufficiency is a significant barrier to implementing breastfeeding, and it is identified as a prevalent concern in 60–90% of mothers in low-and-middle-income countries. Breastmilk insufficiency ca...
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Article
Open AccessCharacterizing the bioburden of ESBL-producing organisms in a neonatal unit using chromogenic culture media: a feasible and efficient environmental sampling method
Infections due to extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing organisms (ESBL) have emerged as the leading cause of sepsis among hospitalized neonates in Botswana and much of sub-Saharan Africa and south Asia. ...
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Article
Open AccessFamiliar but neglected: identification of gaps and recommendations to close them on exclusive breastfeeding support in health facilities in Malawi
Exclusive breastfeeding is widely accepted as a key intervention with proven efficacy for improving newborn survival. Despite international commitments and targets to support and promote breastfeeding, there a...
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Article
Open AccessMothers’ quality of life delivering kangaroo mother care at Malawian hospitals: a qualitative study
Kangaroo mother care is known to help save the lives of preterm and low birthweight infants, particularly in resource-limited health settings, yet barriers to implementation have been documented. Mothers and t...
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Article
Open AccessFacility assessment and qualitative analysis of health worker perspectives on neonatal health in Malawi
The “Integrating a neonatal healthcare package for Malawi” (IMCHA#108030) project conducted mixed-methods to understand facility-based implementation factors for newborn health innovations in low-resourced hea...
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Article
Open Access“It brought hope and peace in my heart:” Caregivers perceptions on kangaroo mother care services in Malawi
Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is an effective intervention for preterm and low birth weight infants. Effective implementation of KMC relies on a multidisciplinary team centering on the newborn’s caregiver, who de...
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Article
Open AccessScaling up newborn care technologies from tertiary- to secondary-level hospitals in Malawi: an implementation case study of health professional perspectives on bubble CPAP
While Malawi has achieved success in reducing overall under-five mortality, reduction of neonatal mortality remains a persistent challenge. There has, therefore, been a push to strengthen the capacity for qual...
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Article
Open AccessBarriers and facilitators to implementing bubble CPAP to improve neonatal health in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review
Bubble continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been shown to be effective in supporting breathing in newborns with respiratory distress. The factors that influence implementation in resource-constrained...
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Article
Open AccessHealth workers’ views on factors affecting caregiver engagement with bubble CPAP
Severe respiratory distress is a leading cause of mortality among neonates in Malawi. Despite evidence on the safety, cost effectiveness and efficacy of bubble continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in man...
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Article
Open AccessAssessing quality of newborn care at district facilities in Malawi
Malawi is celebrated as one of the few countries in sub-Saharan Africa to meet the Millennium Development Goal of reducing under-5 mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015. However, within this age range ...
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Article
Open AccessThe prevalence and clinical characteristics of pertussis-associated pneumonia among infants in Botswana
There are scant data on the prevalence and clinical course of pertussis disease among infants with pneumonia in low- and middle-income countries. While pertussis vaccination coverage is high (≥90%) among infan...
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Article
Open AccessGenetic and epidemiological analysis of norovirus from children with gastroenteritis in Botswana, 2013–2015
Norovirus is a leading cause of viral gastroenteritis worldwide with a peak of disease seen in children. The epidemiological analysis regarding the virus strains in Africa is limited. The first report of norov...
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Article
Open AccessReal-time Detection and Monitoring of Loop Mediated Amplification (LAMP) Reaction Using Self-quenching and De-quenching Fluorogenic Probes
Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) is an isothermal nucleic acid amplification (iNAAT) technique known for its simplicity, sensitivity and speed. Its low-cost feature has resulted in its wide scale ...
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Article
Open AccessSevere late-onset multisystem cytomegalovirus infection in a premature neonate previously treated for congenital infection
Cytomegalovirus is the most common pathogen causing congenital infection and can result in significant neurodevelopmental adverse outcomes. For this reason, it is the standard of care in many regions to treat ...
