Association of Early-Onset Sepsis and Vitamin D Deficiency in Term Neonates.

To determine if vitamin D status is affected in term neonates with early onset sepsis and its association with outcome.
Study was done at a level 3 neonatal unit on 140 neonates. Term neonates with early onset sepsis (study group, 70 patients) and without sepsis (control group, 70 patients) were enrolled.
Mean neonatal vitamin D level in the study group was 16.00 (10.49) ng/mL and in the control group, was 29.07(8.36) ng/mL (P =0.061). In the study group 80% (n=56) babies had low vitamin D levels (<32 ng/mL) among whom 51.7% (n=29) had severe vitamin D deficiency (<11ng/mL). In the control group, 58.5% (n=41) had low vitamin D levels of whom, 9.8% (n=4) had severe vitamin D deficiency (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). Mortality and highly probable sepsis were more common with vitamin D levels <11ng/mL in the study group (P= 0.005 and P=0.006, respectively).
Vitamin D is deficient in neonates with early onset sepsis and is associated with increased sepsis severity and mortality.