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PODCAST

Let"s Talk Micro

Clinical microbiology explained in simple terms, suitable for students and microbiologists alike. We discuss organisms, reactions, infectious diseases, and more. Hosted by Luis Plaza, a Medical Laboratory Scientist and microbiologist, who also shares his experiences in the field.

science life sciences

All Episodes

12:24

217: Micro Minutes: Don't Let PEA Fool You

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/12/19

PEA agar is often treated as "the gram-positive plate," but that shortcut can lead to real bench-level mistakes. In this MicroMinutes episode, we break down what phenylethyl alcohol agar actually does, why growth on PEA does not automatically mean an organism is gram-positive, and how selective media can change colony appearance and behavior. You'll hear about: What PEA inhibits — and what it doesn't Why Pseudomonas aeruginosa can grow quite well on PEA How colony morphology and hemolysis may

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01:07:49

216: AMR Summit 2025: One Health, One Fight

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/12/12

In this special episode, I'm joined by three leaders who helped shape the conversation at the 2025 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Summit in Detroit: Dr. Lauren Hunt, Dr. Linoj Samuel, and Dr. Robert Tibbetts. Together, we explore how this intimate, multidisciplinary summit brought together clinical microbiology, infectious diseases, stewardship, public health, policy, and veterinary medicine to tackle the growing challenges of antimicrobial resistance. We break down the key themes that emerged

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01:06:46

215: One Health, Many Species: AMR Through a...

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/12/05

What does antimicrobial resistance look like when your patients range from dogs and cats to cattle, wildlife, and everything in between? And how do we make sense of AST, breakpoints, contamination, and genotypic tools across such a diverse microbiological world? In this episode, Luis is joined by Dr. Kelli Maddock, DrPH (North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory) and Dr. Stephen Cole (University of Pennsylvania), two leaders shaping the future of veterinary microbiology,

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45:35

214: Beyond the Bench: Optimization & Stewardship in...

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/11/21

In this final episode of our special four-part series in partnership with bioMérieux, we bring all the pieces together. Throughout the series, we explored the diagnostic pathway from multiple angles: Episode 1: The evolution of antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) Episode 2: Molecular diagnostics for bloodstream infections Episode 3: FAST AST and the impact of getting susceptibility data hours sooner Today, in Episode 4, we shift to diagnostic stewardship and lab optimization — the

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10:54

213: Micro Minutes: When Bacteria Break the Rules

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/11/14

In this Micro Minutes episode, Luis breaks down classic microbiology traits that usually hold true, but not always. From indole-negative E. coli to non-swarming Proteus and oxidase-negative Pseudomonas, this quick episode highlights real-world exceptions that can catch techs and students off guard. Learn how to spot: Indole-negative E. coli (98% rule + inactive biotypes) Lactose-fermenting look-alikes like Citrobacter freundii Proteus species that don't swarm Pseudomonas species that test

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10:10

212: Micro Minutes: Sometimes MacConkey Lies

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/11/07

Welcome to the very first Micro Minutes, a new quick-hit series from Let's Talk Micro designed for students, techs, and anyone who wants fast, practical microbiology insights in under 10 minutes. In this episode, we tackle a common misconception that microbiologists can make at the bench when interpreting a single plate: MacConkey agar. Many assume: "If it doesn't grow on MacConkey, it's not a gram-negative rod." "If it does grow on MacConkey, it must be a gram-negative rod." Both are wrong — and

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36:35

211: At the Speed of AST: Diagnosing Resistance Faster

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/10/30

In the third installment of our special series in partnership with bioMérieux, Luis welcomes back Dr. Sonali Kalathiya, infectious diseases pharmacist and medical advisor at bioMérieux, to explore how innovation is accelerating antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Together they dive into FAST AST—a phenotypic susceptibility test that delivers actionable results directly from positive blood cultures in hours instead of days. They discuss how this technology works, how it complements molecular

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21:36

210: IDWeek 2025 Highlights: From Bench to Bedside

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/10/23

Just back from IDWeek 2025 in Atlanta, Luis shares the sessions and posters that defined this year’s meeting — from next-generation sequencing and diagnostic stewardship to AI in the microbiology lab and new antimicrobials on the horizon. Tune in for insights on: NGS test utilization and stewardship New β-lactamase inhibitors like nacubactam AI’s growing role in clinical microbiology Tedizolid and the importance of optimizing existing agents 🎧 Whether you were in Atlanta or following

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36:41

209: CLSI y resistencia antimicrobiana (In Spanish)

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/10/21

En este episodio en español de Let 's Talk Micro, el Dr. Germán Esparza Sánchez , microbiólogo clínico, miembro del CLSI y consultor de la OPS/OMS, comparte las actualizaciones más recientes del documento M100 y cómo impactan la práctica microbiológica. Desde la eliminación de puntos de corte para Burkholderia cepacia hasta los nuevos antibióticos como aztreonam-avibactam, durlobactam-sulbactam y cefiderocol, analizamos los retos de aplicar las guías del CLSI en los laboratorios latinoamericanos,

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46:39

208: The Microbiome Center of Puerto Rico

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/10/16

Puerto Rico is entering a new era in microbiome research. In this episode, Luis speaks with Dr. Filipa Godoy-Vitorino about the newly established Microbiome Center of Puerto Rico — a hub designed to strengthen research, collaboration, and training across the Caribbean. Dr. Godoy-Vitorino shares how the center is helping scientists access expertise in bioinformatics and data analysis, offering bilingual workshops, and expanding representation of Caribbean populations in global microbiome studies

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40:35

207: Micro Lab and Stewardship: Collaboration in...

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/10/09

In this second half of our discussion with Dr. Erin McCreary and Dr. Hannah Creager, we dive deeper into how microbiology and antimicrobial stewardship teams collaborate to improve patient outcomes. They unpack how to prioritize breakpoint updates, the pros and cons of cascade reporting, and what nudges can do to guide better prescribing. Then we explore a powerful example of collaboration—the transition from MRSA agar to PCR across hospitals—and what it taught both teams about communication,

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44:49

206: Micro Lab and Stewardship: Collaboration in...

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/10/02

Good communication isn’t optional—it’s essential for patient care. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Dr. Erin McCreary and Dr. Hannah Creager join Luis to talk about how microbiology labs and antimicrobial stewardship teams can collaborate more effectively. They share real-world examples from their system-wide work—aligning AST panels and breakpoints across multiple platforms, navigating reporting challenges like the clindamycin D-test and rifampin comments, and building consistent communication

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38:24

205: Complicated UTIs: The New IDSA Guidelines

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/09/25

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has released new guidelines for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections. In this episode, we break down the key updates: Changes to the definition of complicated UTIs The role of newer antibiotic agents How and when to use antibiograms A four-step framework for guiding therapy When carbapenems are necessary—and when other options may be just as effective Shorter durations of therapy Join Dr. Barbara Trautner, Dr. Nicolas

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35:35

204: In the Bloodstream: Diagnosing Infections Faster

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/09/18

Bloodstream infections can progress rapidly to sepsis—bringing high costs, high mortality, and lasting effects. In the second episode of this series in collaboration with bioMérieux, Luis speaks with Dr. Jeff Cies, Senior Medical Advisor at bioMérieux, about how molecular diagnostics are reshaping bloodstream infection diagnosis. They discuss: Limitations of traditional blood cultures How rapid molecular tests deliver results faster than ever The impact on outcomes, costs, and antimicrobial

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44:44

203: What’s New with Brucella?

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/09/11

Brucella is a familiar name in the lab—but recent updates to the sentinel guidelines are reshaping how we approach this pathogen. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Laura Filkins and Dr. Paige Larkin to discuss the latest changes: updates in nomenclature, the removal of certain Brucella species from the select agent list, and the renewed emphasis on safety in the lab. We dive into taxonomy controversies, clinical features of brucellosis, and practical steps laboratorians can take to protect

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26:07

202: AI vs. Superbugs: Can AI Help?

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/09/04

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to grow as a global health threat, making infections harder to treat and leaving fewer options for patients. The need for new antibiotics is an urgent matter — but traditional discovery methods are slow and limited. In this episode of Let’s Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Dr. James Collins, professor at MIT and researcher at the Broad Institute, who is leading efforts to apply AI to antibiotic discovery. We discuss how his team used deep learning to uncover

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28:15

201: Spotlight: Rethinking AST-Disk Diffusion on...

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/08/28

Last week, we discussed early growth isolates for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and the importance of obtaining results sooner. This week, we revisit an earlier study that looked at early growth but using disk diffusion. In this episode, I was joined by Dr. Carey-Ann Burnham, Dr. Daniel Webber, and Meghan Wallace to discuss their work. Tune in to hear how this approach could help deliver AST results faster, the challenges of adopting early growth methods, and what it means for clinical

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40:04

200: Early Growth, Faster Answers: Rethinking AST

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/08/21

In this episode of Let’s Talk Micro, Dr. Jennifer Dien Bard and Dr. Lucas Osborn discuss their recent study on early growth antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Traditional AST often requires 18–24 hours of incubation of isolates, delaying targeted treatment. Their research shows that using 6-hour early growth isolates with both automated and manual methods delivers accurate results up to 18 hours faster—without added costs or specialized equipment. The conversation explores the study design,

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36:53

199: Antibiotics: What’s New in Treatment

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/08/14

This week, Luis is joined by Dr. Ashlan Kunz-Coyne to discuss some of the newest antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs). They explore why extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are a growing concern, the impact of E. coli sequence type 131, and where new agents like cefepime–enmetazobactam, sulopenem, and tebipenem fit into treatment. The conversation also highlights clinical data, stewardship considerations, and how the infectious diseases and microbiology communities can work together

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52:38

198: Let’s Talk: The Evolution of AST

Let"s Talk Micro ·

2025/08/07

Season 5 premieres today! Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is essential for guiding effective treatment—but how has it evolved, and what challenges are we still facing? In the first episode of this series in collaboration with bioMérieux, Dr. Andrea Prinzi joins Let’s Talk Micro to explore the evolution of AST—from early methods to modern platforms like VITEK 2. We discuss the known issue of outdated breakpoints in clinical practice, the challenges with regulatory hurdles, and the impact

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