title: Role of prophylactic vitamin K in preventing antibiotic induced hypoprothrombinemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine prophylactic role of single dose of vitamin K in prevention of antibiotic induced hypoprothrombinemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective comparative study included critically ill children in age group 2 mo to 12 y, admitted to a tertiary care hospital in India, likely to receive prolonged antibiotic therapy. One hundred twenty children, 60 in each group (A & B) were enrolled in the study. Patient allocation was done on alternate basis. Group A children received prophylactic vitamin K while group B did not. Baseline coagulation studies and other investigations were done in all children. Coagulation studies were repeated on day 10 and day 14 of antibiotic therapy and in between if required clinically. Children who developed deranged INR were given therapeutic vitamin K. If deranged INR returns to normal at 12 h of vitamin K administration then it indirectly confirms vitamin K deficiency. Analysis was done by fisher's t test and chi square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In children on prolonged antibiotic therapy, vitamin K deficiency was a common problem (15%). It was common in male sex, severe grade of protein energy malnutrition (PEM), N-methylthiotetrazole (NMTT) group containing antibiotics use and duration of antibiotic more than 10 d. It was same in children whether they received or did not receive prophylactic vitamin K on day 1 of antibiotic therapy (95% CI; p value 0.79).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin K deficiency is common problem in patients on prolonged antibiotic therapy. There is no role of single dose of prophylactic vitamin K in preventing antibiotic induced hypoprothrombinemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Govt. Medical College, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India, afarookh@rediffmail.com.
authors.forename: Farookh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Prashant
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Patil
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D018890:Chemoprevention / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007020:Hypoprothrombinemias / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D007223:Infant; D019934:International Normalized Ratio / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014812:Vitamin K / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014813:Vitamin K Deficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006490:Hemostatics; D014812:Vitamin K