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Oral zinc supplementation for reducing mortality in probable neonatal sepsis: A double blind randomized placebo controlled trial

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Abstract

Objective

To study the role of Zinc in the treatment of neonatal sepsis.

Design

Double blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial.

Setting

Tertiary Care Hospital.

Participants

614 neonates with probable neonatal sepsis.

Intervention

The drug group (n=307) received 1mg/kg/day of elemental zinc, and placebo group (n=307) received the placebo, in addition to antibiotic therapy and supportive care, till the final outcome (discharge/death).

Outcome Measures

Decrease in mortality rates (primary outcome), duration of hospital stay and need of higher lines of antibiotic therapy (secondary outcomes) were tested.

Results

Baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. No statistically significant differences between drug and placebo group were found in mortality rate (9.77% vs 7.81 %; P=0.393), mean duration of hospital stay (142.85±69.41 hrs, vs. 147.99±73.13 hrs; P=0.841), and requirement of higher lines of antibiotic therapy (13.35% vs 12.05%, P=0.628) after supplementation.

Conclusions

This study does not report decrease in mortality rates, duration of hospital stay and requirement of higher lines of antibiotic therapy following zinc supplementation in neonatal sepsis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal

    K. Mehta, N. K. Bhatta, M. K. Shrivastava & Rupa Rajbhandari Singh

  2. Department of Biochemistry, BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal

    S. Majhi

Authors
  1. K. Mehta
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  2. N. K. Bhatta
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  3. S. Majhi
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  4. M. K. Shrivastava
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  5. Rupa Rajbhandari Singh
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Mehta, K., Bhatta, N.K., Majhi, S. et al. Oral zinc supplementation for reducing mortality in probable neonatal sepsis: A double blind randomized placebo controlled trial . Indian Pediatr 50, 390–393 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-013-0120-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-013-0120-2

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