We excluded 15 studies since they described specific populations not primarily defined by malaria status. Studies alluding to an association between malaria and Invasive bacterial infection but with incomplete information or unsuitable study design were tabulated separately (Additional file 1: Table S2). Only four studies were excluded due to location outside of sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the dearth of data from other regions. Three of these studies reported predominantly data from adults [9-11]. A study of 340 children with severe malaria in Papua New Guinea recorded two cases of malaria with concomitant infection (invasive candida and Klebsiella Pneumoniae); however, not all children had blood cultures taken [12]. Other reasons for exclusion are detailed in Additional file 1: Table S1.