Staphylococcus aureus sepsis inducing severe hemolysis in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD)-deficient preterm infant causing severe neonatal jaundice and kernicterus
Affiliations: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Foothill Medical Centre, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada | Division of Hematology and Oncology, Alberta Children's Hospital, University of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Note: [] Corresponding author: Essa Hamdan Al Awad, University of Calgary, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Peter Lougheed Centre, 3500, 26th Ave, NW, Calgary, AB T1Y6J4, Alberta, Canada. Tel.: +1 403 943 4892; Fax: +1 403 943 2565; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Kernicterus caused by severe jaundice is a devastating condition and has long term neurodevelopmental consequences in children. Infections and drugs can trigger severe hemolysis in newborns with deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD), and can precipitously increase the severity of jaundice. In this case report, we speculate that Staphylococcus aureus sepsis may have triggered severe hemolysis in a G-6-PD-deficient preterm neonate, leading to severe neonatal jaundice and kernicterus. To our knowledge this is the first such reported case.
