IntroductionGlobally, hypoxia of the newborn (birth asphyxia) or the fetus ("fresh stillbirth") is estimated to account for 23% of the 4 million neonatal deaths and 26% of the 3.2 million stillbirths each year 1 .

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Aim: To find out association between vitamin D level and early onset neonatal sepsis (EONS). Methods: This case control study was conducted at a tertiary care center in Northern India during June 2018 to May 2019. Neonates with culture-proven EONS were included as case and neonates without EONS were enrolled as control. 25OH-D levels were evaluated with other routine blood samples. Statistical analysis was done by using unpaired t test and chi-square test. Results: Sixty-two infants were enrolled in each group; baseline characteristics were comparable in both groups. Risk of EONS increased 8 times in neonates with 25OH-D level <30 ng/mL (odds ratio = 8.2; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.08-21.82; P = .000). The 25OH-D level was significantly lower in EONS group than control group. Optimal cut-off for 25OH-D was 25 ng/mL to predict EONS with a sensitivity and specificity of 88.7% and 79%, respectively (area under the curve: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.76-0.92; P = .000). Conclusions: Vitamin D insufficiency is significantly associated with EONS. Vitamin D deficiency significantly increases risk of EONS. Maternal vitamin D supplementation may improve neonatal vitamin D levels and may decreases risk of EONS. Further studies including maternal vitamin D level are required for implementation.

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Purpose: Neonatal Sepsis is a serious and life threatening condition. Mortality and morbidity due to sepsis can be prevented by early diagnosis and timely management. Blood culture is the gold standard test in the diagnosis of sepsis but it is time consuming, require well equipped laboratory and trained personnel. C-reactive protein is an important early diagnostic marker of sepsis which help in early assessment of infection in neonates. We aim to assess the diagnostic accuracy and its association with blood culture in clinically suspected cases of neonatal septicaemia. Method: It was a hospital based observational study conducted during June 2021 to May 2022 in the department of Microbiology, SMS Medical College, Jaipur. Hundred fourty cases of suspected neonatal septicemia admitted in Neonatal ICU's of Sir Padampat Mother and Child Care Hospital were enrolled and processed by BACT/ALERT- 3D Automated Blood Culture system and CRP rapid slide latex agglutination method. Results: Out of 140 enrolled cases of neonatal septicaemia, 60(42.85%) were considered as the Culture proven neonatal sepsis cases. Out of these culture proven neonatal septicemia, 52 (86.66%) were CRP Positive. The sensitivity and specicity of CRP in the diagnosis of neonatal septicemia were 86.66% and 45% respectively. The positive and negative predictive value were 54.16% and 81.81% respectively. The diagnostic accuracy was 62.85%. Conclusion: Serum CRP is a screening tool for the early diagnosis of neonatal septicaemia that can easily available, rapid method with good sensitivity and negative predictive value. Hence it can be used by clinicians for treatment of sepsis.