Influences and Impact of the Microbiome on infants in the NICU (201)

The environment of care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) includes constant vigilance against germs. Through careful attention to handwashing, visitor screening, and continuous cleaning processes, NICU nurses and their colleagues strive to create a setting that will promote health and decrease risks. Unfortunately, while many of these actions had good intentions, the goal of eradicating microbes sometimes does more harm than good.
Research is providing new details about the human microbiome – the collection of all microscopic organisms that live in the body. Some microbes are considered harmful, while others are perceived as beneficial. Often this divide between injury and utility depends on the location, function, and quantity of the microbes.
This presentation will provide an overview of the function, development, maturation, and roles of the microbiome in the neonate. This will include influences of human milk, antibiotic use and timing, prebiotic/probiotic use, skin-to-skin care, and the NICU environment itself. Content will include basics of the microbiome as well as recent research developments regarding more complex applications.
The influence of the neonatal microbiome goes far beyond immediate NICU care. The microbiome’s maturation process continues until three years of age, and there are multiple implications for neurodevelopment and immune system development. This presentation will provide updated research findings, applications for current practice, and recommendations for future research.