Vitamin K Deficiency Guidelines

Updated: Sep 27, 2017
  • Author: Dieu-Thu Nguyen-Khoa, MD, FACP; Chief Editor: George T Griffing, MD  more...
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Guidelines

Guidelines Summary

Vitamin K prophylaxis in neonates

The following organizations have issued guidelines for the administration of vitamin K prophylaxis in neonates:

  • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
  • Canadian Paediatric Society/College of Family Physicians of Canada
  • World Health Organization (WHO)

According to the AAP guidelines, all newborns should be given an intramuscular (IM) dose of 0.5 to 1 mg of vitamin K within 6 hours after birth. The Canadian Paediatric Society Committee/College of Family Physicians of Canada guidelines are in concurrence with AAP with the recommendation of IM administration of vitamin K within the first 6 hours after birth, with dosages of 0.5 mg for birthweights up to 1,500 g and a 1-mg dose for birthweights over 1,500 g. [34]  The WHO recommends 1 mg of vitamin K intramuscularly up to 6 hours after birth for all infants. [35]