Problem: Vitamin D has been increasingly linked to disease prevention, including a role in preventing infections via innate immunity. Vitamin D has been found to enhance the body's natural antimicrobial capabilities via up-regulated activity of cathelicidin (LL-37). Healthcare-associated infections (HAI), including surgical site infections (SSI), respiratory tract infections (RTI) and urinary tract infections (UTI), continue to persist in the hospitalized population. Elective surgical patients are at increased risk of HAI during their post-operative recovery due to their exposure to invasive treatment (surgery), the hospital setting and their compromised status (i.e., immobilization, wound-healing). Meanwhile, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, as defined by a serum calcidiol (25-hydroxy-vitamin D, or 25(OH)D) level < 75 nmol/L, is significant in both hospital and community adult populations. The purpose of this literature review is to summarize the published data regarding 25(OH)D and LL-37, and their associations with the incidence of HAI in surgical patients. Methods: The databases of PubMed, Ovid Medline and Google Custom Search via Weill-Cornell Medical Library were searched from October 2009 through February 2010 to identify relevant published studies. Results: No studies were found regarding HAI and vitamin D status in acute hospital elective surgical adults. Multiple studies link low 25(OH)D to acute infection, although only a few hospital-based studies were found that make this association. Conclusions: Vitamin D has been linked to acute infections via decreased LL-37. It is not known whether low 25(OH)D status increases risk of HAI in the elective surgery patient.