Background: A neonatal infection is an infection occurring in a newborn during the first 28 days of life. It can be caused by various pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi. Methods: We conducted a historical cohort study at the N'djili General Reference Hospital. Our study included newborns who had been diagnosed with a neonatal infection based on maternal medical history and clinical criteria in the newborn. Results: In terms of gender, our study counted 1.14 boys for every girl. From a clinical and biological perspective, fever was present in 30.3% of newborns. On the maternal side, peripartum fever accounted for 42.3%. CRP was abnormally high in 74.3%. Newborns with an APGAR score ≥ 7 had better cumulative survival than those with a score < 7, with a statistically significant difference (Log-rank, p = 0.008). Conclusion: Neonatal infection remains a major public health issue in Kinshasa, with high morbidity and mortality despite diagnostic and therapeutic efforts.
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