Vitamin K deficiency bleeding in Australian infants 1993–2017: an Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit study

What is it about?

We present results of 25 years of continuous surveillance for vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) in Australian infants. This surveillance period covered changes in recommendations for vitamin K prophylaxis at birth and a change in the available preparation of vitamin K in Australia. Our results confirm that an intramuscular injection of 1mg of vitamin K at birth is the most effective route of administration to prevent VKDB. No adverse events due to vitamin K were reported. The number of parental refusals of vitamin K at birth have increased significantly since 2006. During the 25 years of surveillance there were 6 infant deaths, and in three infants this was associated with home birth and parents refusing vitamin K at birth. Ongoing education of pregnant women and health professionals who attend births is needed to avoid preventable infant deaths due to VKDB.

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