Blood Glucose Levels in Neonatal Sepsis and Probable Sepsis and Its Association with Mortality

Objective: To determine the blood glucose levels among patients with neonatal sepsis and probable sepsis and evaluate their association with the mortality rate.

Study Design: Analytical study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Fazle Omar Hospital, Rabwah, Pakistan from July 2007 to December 2008.

Methodology: Neonates with culture proven and probable neonatal sepsis were included. The glucose levels at the time of admission and outcomes were recorded. The patients were divided in four groups according to their glucose levels i.e. < 40 mg/dl, 40-100 mg/dl, 101-200 mg/dl and > 200 mg/dl. The patients were divided in two groups according to weight i.e. < 2.5 kg and ³ 2.5 kg.

Results: There were a total of 502 cases. The glucose levels were below 40 mg/dl in 50 patients (9.9%), between 40 mg/dl to 100 mg/dl in 322 (64.1%), between 101 mg/dl to 200 mg/dl in 95 (18.9%) and above 200 mg/dl in 35 patients (6.9%). Among these four groups, 16 (32%), 32 (9.9%), 22 (23.2%) and 17 (48.6%) neonates died respectively (p < 0.001). The difference in glucose levels among the two groups according to weight was significant (p=0.002).

Conclusion: Majority of patients with neonatal sepsis and probable sepsis had glucose levels between 40 and 100 mg/dl at admission. Those with the levels below 40 mg/dl and above 200 mg/dl had higher mortality rates.