الفهرس 
Vitamin D: Neonatal perspectivesOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Summary
Neonatal sepsis is a clinical syndrome in infant aged ≤ 28 days,
manifested by systemic signs of infection with isolation of bacterial
pathogen from blood stream .
Neonatal septicemia remains one of the main causes of mortality and
morbidity despite the progress in hygiene, introduction of new and
potent antimicrobial agents for treatment and advanced measures for
diagnosis. It is responsible for 30‐50% of total neonatal deaths in
developing countries.
Neonatal sepsis can be classified to early and late onset sepsis. Early
onset sepsis in general is the sepsis occurs in the first 72 of life. Earlyonset
sepsis (EOS) often presents as a fulminant, multi-system illness
within 72 hours of delivery and is mainly due to bacteria acquired
before and during delivery whereas late onset sepsis (LOS) is due to
bacteria acquired after delivery (Nosocomial or community sources)
and can present as either a fulminant or a smoldering infection.
Vitamin D is a fat-soluble steroid hormone that contributes to the
maintenance of normal calcium homeostasis and skeletal
mineralization. Vitamin D also has immunomodulatory effects on
immune function. It was suggested that it might have a role in the
optimal functioning of the innate immune system by inducing
antimicrobial peptides in epithelial cells, neutrophils and macrophages.
Newborns are more susceptible to infections as both innate and
adaptive immune systems are not entirely developed. The relationship
between vitamin D deficiency and infections, especially lower