Implementation of Universal Newborn Screening for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency in Singapore While Continuing Routine Bacille-Calmette-Guerin Vaccination Given at Birth.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) is generally fatal if untreated; it predisposes to severe infections, including disseminated Bacille-Calmette-Guerin (BCG) disease from BCG vaccination at birth. However, delaying BCG vaccination can be detrimental to the population in tuberculosis-endemic regions. Early diagnosis of SCID through newborn screening followed by pre-emptive treatment with anti-mycobacterial therapy may be an alternative strategy to delaying routine BCG vaccination. We report the results of the first year of newborn SCID screening in Singapore while continuing routine BCG vaccination at birth.

Method

Newborn screening using a T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC) assay was performed in dried blood spots received between 10 October 2019 to 9 O

SUBMITTER: Chan SB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8761728 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature