Sanitization of Early Life and Microbial Dysbiosis

Shelly Jun, Kelsea Drall, Brittany Matenchuk, Cara McLean, Charlene Nielsen, Chinwe V. Obiakor, Aaron Van der Leek and Anita Kozyrskyj
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Shelly Jun: Department of Surgery, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada
Kelsea Drall: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada
Brittany Matenchuk: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada
Cara McLean: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada
Charlene Nielsen: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada
Chinwe V. Obiakor: School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada
Aaron Van der Leek: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada
Anita Kozyrskyj: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G2R3, Canada

Challenges, 2018, vol. 9, issue 2, 1-9

Abstract: Childbearing and infant care practices have dramatically evolved since the 15th century. Shifting away from traditional home-based experiences, with the emergence of the microbial aware era and the hospital as a quintessential sanitizing machine, early life has now long been characterized as a condition to be medically managed. Paradoxically, this ‘germ-free’ march towards a healthier early life environment has opened the door to greater microbial susceptibility and dysbiosis. Many studies have now established that infant exposure to excessive sanitation and hygiene regimens are associated with an increased risk for and onset of childhood immune system diseases. In this paper, we explore the ways in which biomedical-centered efforts to enhance early life have come at a cost to planetary health, in relation to infant microbial succession. We examine three major areas of early life that have been subject to the ‘ripple effect’ of hygiene and sanitation concerns—childbirth, home environment, and breastfeeding.

Keywords: antibiotics; birth; breastfeeding; caesarean section; cleaning products; microbial succession; planetary health; sanitation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A00 C00 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jchals:v:9:y:2018:i:2:p:43-:d:191364

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