Z. Nasserallah et al., NEONATAL SEPTICEMIA AND GLUCOSE-6-PHOSPHATE-DEHYDROGENASE STATUS IN QATIF, SAUDI-ARABIA, Saudi medical journal, 16(3), 1995, pp. 210-212
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.