title: The Infant Microbiome: Implications for Infant Health and Neurocognitive Development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Beginning at birth, the microbes in the gut perform essential duties related to the digestion and metabolism of food, the development and activation of the immune system, and the production of neurotransmitters that affect behavior and cognitive function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives of this review are to (a) provide a brief overview of the microbiome and the "microbiome-gut-brain axis"; (b) discuss factors known to affect the composition of the infant microbiome: mode of delivery, antibiotic exposure, and infant-feeding patterns; and (c) present research priorities for nursing science and clinical implications for infant health and neurocognitive development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The gut microbiome influences immunological, endocrine, and neural pathways and plays an important role in infant development. Several factors influence colonization of the infant gut microbiome. Different microbial colonization patterns are associated with vaginal versus surgical birth, exposure to antibiotics, and infant-feeding patterns. Because of extensive physiological influence, infant microbial colonization patterns have the potential to impact physical and neurocognitive development and life course disease risk. Understanding these influences will inform newborn care and parental education.
authors.affiliation: Irene Yang, PhD, RN, is Postdoctoral Fellow, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. Elizabeth J. Corwin, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Associate Dean and Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Atlanta, Georgia. Patricia A. Brennan, PhD, is Professor, Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia. Sheila Jordan, RN, MPH, is Graduate Student; Jordan R. Murphy, BS, is Graduate Student; and Anne Dunlop, MD, MPH, is Associate Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Elizabeth J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Corwin
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: Jordan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dunlop
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002657:Child Development / Q000502:physiology*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula; D000068104:Infant Health; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents