IntroductionNeonatal sepsis outreaches all causes of neonatal mortality worldwide and remains a major societal burden in low and middle income countries. In addition to limited resources, endemic morbidities, such as malaria and prematurity, predispose neonates and infants to invasive infection by altering neonatal immune response to pathogens. Nevertheless, thoughtful epidemiological, diagnostic and immunological evaluation of neonatal sepsis and the impact of gestational malaria have never been performed.Methods and analysisA prospective longitudinal multicentre follow-up of 580 infants from birth to 3 months of age in urban and suburban Benin will be performed. At delivery, and every other week, all children will be examined and clinically evaluated for occurrence of sepsis. At delivery, cord blood systematic analysis of selected plasma and transcriptomic biomarkers (procalcitonin, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IP10, CD74 and CX3CR1) associated with sepsis pathophysiology will be evaluated in all live births as well as during the follow-up, and when sepsis will be suspected. In addition, whole blood response to selected innate stimuli and extensive peripheral blood mononuclear cells phenotypic characterisation will be performed. Reference intervals specific to sub-Saharan neonates will be determined from this cohort and biomarkers performances for neonatal sepsis diagnosis and prognosis tested.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been obtained from the Comité d’Ethique de la Recherche – Institut des Sciences Biomédicales Appliquées (CER-ISBA 85 - 5 April 2016, extended on 3 February 2017). Results will be disseminated through international presentations at scientific meetings and publications in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT03780712.

Objective: Despite the presence of hand washing material and the training given to medical staff regarding hygiene measures and health care procedures in October 2015, the prevalence of nosocomial infections in the neonatal unit of the National University Teaching Hospital of Cotonou (CNHU-Cotonou) was estimated at 8% in January 2016. To determine the factors that contribute to these infections, this study assessed medical staff compliance with hand hygiene measures and procedures. Method: This research was a cross-sectional and observational study conducted from February 15 to March 31, 2016 through direct and cautious observation of 47 members of the medical and paramedical staff. The study variables were hand washing before entering the neonatal unit and before entering each treatment room, hand washing before and after seeing each patient, compliance with hand washing steps, the use of hydroalcoholic solutions and adhering to the ban on mobile phone use inside the treatment room. Results: Only 15% of the medical staff followed all of the rules and measures governing hand hygiene. The result showed that 76.6% of them did not wash their hands before entering the unit; 32% washed their hands before each care session; 95.7% washed their hands after each care session; and 85% did not comply with the hand washing steps. Only 21.3% of the personnel used hydroalcoholic solution, and only 85% of the personnel adhered to the ban on mobile phone use within the treatment room. Conclusion: Compliance with hand hygiene measures is insufficient. These low compliance rates

Objectives: Cesarean section rates are still high in referral hospitals in Benin. One of the Cesarean main indications is uterine scar to avoid the risk of uterus rupture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of inducing labor on uterine scar in Cotonou. Patients and Methods:This was a prospective study conducted at Lagune Mother-Child University Hospital (HOMEL) in Cotonou, Benin Republic from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2013. The population of study was pregnant women with scarred uterus, selected after calculation of oxytocin perfusion score. Results: The frequency of inducing labour on scarred uterus in our sample was 0.49%. Vaginal birthing rate was 93.54. Apgar score was greater than 7 in the first minute in 95.69% of cases. A case of neonatal death as a result of neonatal infection was recorded. Maternal complications included hemorrhages (3 cases), dehiscence of the scar (1 case), and no case of maternal death. Conclusion: Induction of labor on scarred uterus is possible in underdeveloped countries, with a success rate similar to that of developed countries under good medical supervision.