Last year we told you about a groundbreaking study done by our partners at the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), where they determined that reducing unnecessary antibiotic exposure during infancy and promoting breastfeeding can contribute to the prevention of asthma and allergic disease.
Dr David Patrick, Dr Hannah Lishman, and their team of researchers, built two of the largest cohorts in North America (the study was based in BC and Manitoba) to address the topic, studying administrative health data from 1996-2018. Their research found an elevated risk of asthma and allergic diseases in children exposed to antibiotics in infancy in both provinces, after accounting for many other early life factors. Their research supports the hypothesis that antibiotics most likely cause the problem by disrupting development of a healthy microbiome — the healthy bacteria and other microbes in the developing gut of the infant — which helps train the infant’s immune system away from allergic responses, like asthma.
They compiled an e-book on the topic in Frontiers in Allergy, showcasing relevant work from around the world, as well as some of their own work. To date, the e-book has over 86,000 topic views, is Frontiers in Allergy’s second largest research topic, and is in their top 5 most viewed research topics. Sharing this information as an e-book has been very effective in reaching other researchers interested in the topic, but the team wanted to expand their audience and share their findings with parents, caregivers and healthcare workers. By communicating to new and expecting parents about the importance of avoiding unnecessary antibiotics and the benefits of breastfeeding, parents will be able to help reduce the risk of their infants developing asthma, reducing the burden of chronic illness on their child, their family, and the community at large.
Sharing Knowledge with Parents
In order to get the word across to as many parents as possible, the team worked with Be The Change Group — a research firm and creative agency — to conduct a parent focus group, develop an expert-reviewed script, and create a video alongside other information for parents, which can be seen below:
The team has also sent an evidence briefing package to provincial partners from regional health authorities and allied health professions, where they will share this information with professionals and patients within their scope of practice.
This knowledge translation work will ensure that families in Canada and around the world have the information they need to reduce the risk of asthma in their infants. The support of our generous partner, TB Vets Charitable Foundation, has been essential in funding this work. For the last 75 years, TB Vets has provided critical respiratory equipment, research, and education in BC, and they believe strongly in saving lives by treating, and preventing, respiratory emergencies. We are grateful for their continued guidance and support, and invite you to join them by donating to help improve public health across the province, and beyond.
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