THE USE OF VITAMIN-K IN THE PERINATAL-PER IOD IN FRANCE

Background. - Because of the risk of hemorrhagic disease of the neonat e secondary to vitamin K deficiency, it is generally agreed that neona tes should be given vitamin K. There is however, no consensus concerni ng the route of administration, dose, number of doses, or dose frequen cy. It was therefore necessary to determine patterns of vitamin K admi nistration in France. Population and methods. - Routine vitamin K admi nistration was studied in 1993 by questionnaires sent to all maternity units in France. Results. - Six hundred and forty of the 1086 questio nnaires could be analysed. Vitamin K was never prescribed in 0.3% of m aternity units and was given only to high risk neonates in 3%. In heal thy neonates receiving milk formulas, the route of administration (ora l or IM) agreed with the recommendations of the French Committee of Pe diatric Nutrition. In contrast, breast-fed infants were given IM vitam in K in only 19% of the matenite' units whereas regular weekly doses w ere prescribed in only 56%. In premature infants, IM doses were prescr ibed in only 46% of cases and repeated weekly doses in 34%. The dose g enerally prescribed (5 mg orally or IM) was not the recommended dose. Among the available products, oral or parenteral vitamin K Roche(R) wa s the most frequently prescribed. Conclusion. - New recommendations fo r the use of vitamin K in the perinatal period in France are necessary .