Epidemiology of neonatal infections.

The World Health Organization estimates that more than 4 million neonates die each year and 98% of these deaths occur in developing countries. Infections are among the main causes of neonatal mortality. The neonatal health is intrinsically linked to the mother's health and the care she receives before, during and immediately after delivery. If in resource-rich countries improvements in perinatal conditions, prevention and management of fetal-neonatal infections have reduced the burden of neonatal morbidity and mortality, in resource-limited areas they have only just improved and many barriers remain still to be overcome. Prematurity is often due to fetal infections and represents a significant risk factor for nosocomial infections.