Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

  • 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018
  • Project No: 374
  • Funding round: FR 13

Prolonged Antibiotic Use, Inflammation and Obesity (PROBITY)

m.lown@soton.ac.uk

Lengthy antibiotic courses are often used during teenage years for common conditions such as acne. Some bacteria are becoming resistant to a wide range of antibiotics and these ‘superbugs’ are a growing threat to our health and are mainly a consequence of extensive antibiotic use in medical practice. Recent research has hinted that antibiotic use could be linked with an increased chance of weight gain or obesity which has become one of the most serious global challenges in terms of long-term health. Our gut contains bacteria (referred to as the gut flora) which can be dramatically altered after taking antibiotics and these changes may lead to health problems.

Work has suggested that the changes in the gut flora can dramatically influence our metabolism and lead to increased body fat. Specific changes in the gut flora have been linked with chronic illnesses such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. To date however, the significance of lengthy antibiotic exposure remains unknown but it is possible that careful and considerate use of antibiotics could minimize long-term consequences such as significant weight gain in addition to reducing antibiotic resistance.

We are interested in evaluating if there are increased rates of obesity in adult life in patients who are given lengthy courses of antibiotics in earlier life (between ages 11 and 18). We will use the Hampshire Health Record Analytical database (HHRA) which is an electronic store of anonymised health data for over 1.4 million patients in Hampshire. We also intend to look at links with other conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. This work has the potential to influence guidelines on the treatment of conditions such as acne where there are suitable alternative (non-antibiotic) therapies. This will also be one of the first studies to look at the extent of lengthy antibiotic use in the UK.

Amount awarded: £18,469

Projects by themes

We have grouped projects under the five SPCR themes in this document

Evidence synthesis working group

The collaboration will be conducting 18 high impact systematic reviews, under four workstreams.