NEONATAL SEPTICEMIA AND GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE-DEHYDROGENASE STATUS IN QATIF, SAUDI-ARABIA

Objective: To determine the effect of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenas e deficiency on the incidence and types of neonatal septicaemia. Desig n. Retrospective review of the charts of cases of neonatal septicaemia . Subjects: Babies with culture proven septicaemia between January 198 9 and December 1990. Methodology: Subjects were stratified into glucos e-g-phosphate dehydrogenase normal (Group I) and deficient (Group II). The two groups were compared. Results: Of the 100 charts reviewed 80 were G-6-PD normal (Group I), while 20 were G-6-PD deficient (Group II ). In Group I and Group II 36 (45%) and nine (45%) babies were prematu re respectively. Early neonatal septicaemia was found in 24 (30%) babi es in Group I, and in five (25%) babies in Group II, while late onset septicaemia was found in 56 (70%) babies and 15 (75%) babies in Group I and Group II respectively (p>0.5). In Group 1, 69 (86.3%) babies had catalase-positive organisms, compared with 18 (90%) babies in Group I I, (p>0.5). Nineteen (23%) babies died in Group I, while five (20%) ba bies died in Group II (p>0.5). Conclusion: G-6-PD deficiency is neithe r associated with increased risk of neonatal septicaemia, nor with hig her risk of acquiring infections with catalase-positive organisms.