STUDY OF THE USE OF VITAMIN-K IN NEONATES IN FRANCE

Objective: Because of the risk of haemorrhagic disease of the newborn as a result of a deficit in vitamin K, it is generally agreed that new borns should receive vitamin K. However, there is no consensus concern ing the route of administration, dose, number of doses, or dose freque ncy. Methods: We studied patterns of vitamin K administration in all m aternity hospitals in France in order to establish the range of practi ces and policies. Six hundred and forty questionnaires were analysed. Vitamin Ii was given systematically to al neonates in 619 maternity ho spitals (96.7%), not given to any neonates in 2 (0.3%), and only to ce rtain newborns in 19 (3%). A similar protocol was used for all newborn s in 299 (47%) of the maternity hospitals, and the treatment protocol differed according to the neonatal clinical picture in 336 maternity h ospitals (53%). Results: The route of administration agreed with the r ecommendation that healthy newborns receive formula milk. In contrast, infants receiving breast milk were given IM vitamin K in only 19% of the maternity hospitals studied and regular weekly doses were prescrib ed in only 56%. In premature infants, IM doses were prescribed in only 46% of cases and repeat weekly doses in 34%. The dose generally presc ribed (5 mg p.o. or IM) was not the recommended dose.