Replication Data for: Detection of pathogens associated with early-onset neonatal sepsis in cord blood at birth using quantitative PCR

This is a replication dataset for the manuscript titled:\"Detection of pathogens associated with early-onset neonatal sepsis in cord blood at birth using quantitative PCR\" submitted to Welcome Open Research journal. There is paucity of data on the aetiology of early onset sepsis despite its associated significant mortality and neurological impairment. Diagnostic challenges include limited laboratory capacity, non-culturable and viral pathogens and that mortality may occur very soon after birth.Using TaqMan Array cards for multiplex PCR, we compared 603 cases hospitalised within the first 48 hours of birth with clinical features of possible Serious Bacterial Infection (pSBI) (including 101 deaths), to 300 healthy controls who had cord blood samples collected in identical circumstances but remained well.Maternal and neonatal data at birth, incouding cord blood samples, were obtained within a systematic clinical surveillance of maternal and neonatal adverse events (clinicaltrials.gov NCT01757028).Neonatal admission data of 603 cases with pSBI was obtained when neonates were hospitalised at the Kilifi County Hospital as part of an ongoing ward surveillance for bacteraemia.