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Let's Talk Micro: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Luis Plaza
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.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 3 days ago46 min
246: Inside ATCC: From Biological Materials to the Bench
Many microbiology professionals are familiar with ATCC strains used for quality control, validation, and verification—but what happens before those biological materials reach the laboratory? ATCC, the American Type Culture Collection, maintains biological materials used by scientists and laboratories around the world. In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Dr. Shahin Ali, Senior Scientist at ATCC, to take a closer look at the work behind biological reference materials. Dr. Ali discusses how ATCC identifies and acquires microorganisms, what characteristics are considered when adding them to the collection, and how materials are authenticated, characterized, preserved, and maintained over time. The conversation also explores expert curation and complete provenance, why authenticated reference materials are important for laboratory quality and reproducibility, and how individual strains of the same species can have meaningful differences. Luis and Dr. Ali also discuss antimicrobial resistance, the growing importance of genomic and metadata quality, and how curated biological collections may support AI-driven research in the future. And, as always, stay until the end to hear Dr. Ali's favorite microorganism—and the personal connection behind his answer. Resources Learn more about ATCC: https://www.atcc.org/ Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro: Website: letstalkmicro.com Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com Interested in being a guest on Let's Talk Micro? Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/V2fT3asjfyusmqyi8 Support the podcast: Venmo Buy me a Ko-fi
- 6 days ago51 min
World Rabies Day: Revisiting Rabies with Dr. Rodney Rohde
Originally published on September 28, 2022, this episode returns to the Let's Talk Micro feed in recognition of World Rabies Day. Dr. Rodney Rohde joins the podcast to discuss rabies and his extensive experience working with the virus in public health. We start with the basics: What is rabies? How is it transmitted? What are the signs and symptoms? From there, we discuss potential exposures, post-exposure prophylaxis, vaccination, and ways to prevent rabies. Dr. Rohde also shares his experience working in rabies diagnostics and molecular epidemiology, as well as his involvement with wildlife rabies vaccination efforts. We also discuss the importance of recognizing potential exposures, the role of wildlife—particularly bats—and considerations when traveling to areas where rabies may be more prevalent. Finally, what is World Rabies Day, and why is it observed on September 28? Dr. Rohde discusses the history and significance of the day and the importance of education, prevention, and collaboration in the fight against rabies. Tune in as we revisit this conversation and learn more about rabies. Resources World Rabies Day: https://rabiesalliance.org/world-rabies-day Dr. Rohde's rabies book: https://www.elsevier.com/books/rabies/wilson/978-0-323-63979-8 Dr. Rohde's website: https://rodneyerohde.wp.txstate.edu/ Related publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33659941/ Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro: Website: letstalkmicro.com Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com Interested in being a guest on Let's Talk Micro? Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/V2fT3asjfyusmqyi8 Support the podcast: Venmo Buy me a Ko-fi
- 1 weeks ago43 min
245: Antimicrobials Conference: The Next Chapter for MAD-ID and SIDP
MAD-ID (Making a Difference in Infectious Diseases) and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP) have joined forces to create a new annual meeting focused on antimicrobial therapeutics, stewardship, infectious diseases, and more. In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Dr. Erin McCreary and Dr. Mike Rybak to discuss the history of MAD-ID and SIDP, what brought the two organizations together, and highlights from their 2026 meeting. They also discuss sessions relevant to clinical microbiology, practical approaches to applying new science, opportunities for networking and trainees, and what attendees can expect as the meeting moves forward under its new name: Antimicrobials Conference. Resources MAD-ID: https://www.mad-id.org/ Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP): https://sidp.org/ Information on upcoming Antimicrobials Conference meetings: https://sidp.org/annualmeetings Want to check out the Breakpoints podcast? https://breakpoints-sidp.org/ Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro: Website: letstalkmicro.com Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com Interested in being a guest on Let's Talk Micro? Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/V2fT3asjfyusmqyi8 Support the podcast: Venmo Buy me a Ko-fi
- 2 weeks ago56 min
244: Group A Strep: Breaking Down the New IDSA Guidelines
Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a common cause of pharyngitis, but deciding who should be tested and which testing method to use isn't always straightforward. In 2025, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) released updated guidelines on Group A streptococcal pharyngitis, bringing renewed attention to diagnostic stewardship and the use of clinical scoring systems to help guide testing decisions. In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Dr. Christopher Doern returns to the podcast to break down the updated IDSA guidelines and what they may mean for clinical practice. We discuss clinical scoring systems such as Centor and McIsaac, antigen testing, culture, molecular diagnostics, and point-of-care testing. We also explore turnaround time and cost considerations, GAS carriage and the interpretation of positive results, and how diagnostic decisions connect with antimicrobial stewardship. Tune in as we take a practical look at what's changing in Group A strep testing and how laboratories and clinicians can approach these updated recommendations. This podcast episode is sponsored by Cepheid. The views and opinions expressed by the interviewer in this interview are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Cepheid. Resources IDSA Clinical Practice Guideline Update on Group A Streptococcal (GAS) Pharyngitis: IDSA 2025 Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis Guideline Current Laboratory and Point-of-Care Pharyngitis Diagnostic Testing and Knowledge Gaps: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39688598/ Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro: Website: letstalkmicro.com Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com Interested in being a guest on Let's Talk Micro? Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/V2fT3asjfyusmqyi8 Support the podcast: Venmo Buy me a Ko-fi
- 3 weeks ago46 min
243: When AI Meets Medicine
Artificial intelligence is changing how healthcare professionals access and use clinical information. But what does that look like at the point of care? In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Dr. Declan Kelly, physician, software engineer, and founder of Eolas Medical, to discuss the role of AI in clinical decision support. Dr. Kelly shares how challenges accessing institutional guidelines and clinical knowledge led to the development of Eolas Medical and how AI can help healthcare professionals find the information they need when making clinical decisions. The conversation explores the importance of local guidelines, the connection between the clinical microbiology laboratory and antimicrobial stewardship, and how AI can help bridge the gap between laboratory data, institutional knowledge, and patient care. They also discuss evidence supporting these technologies, concerns surrounding AI hallucinations and clinical safety, and how clinical decision support may evolve in the years ahead. Tune in to learn how AI is changing the way clinical knowledge is accessed and what that could mean for the future of healthcare. This episode is brought to you in collaboration with Eolas Medical. Eolas Medical is a clinical knowledge platform founded by physician Dr. Declan Kelly, who saw firsthand how hard it can be to find trusted guidance at the point of care. Using AI grounded exclusively in an organization's own approved protocols and guidelines, Eolas gives clinicians fast, accurate answers instead of generic search results. It is used across 90% of acute NHS trusts and 600+ sites globally, including Stanford and Mass General Brigham. For antimicrobial stewardship, a peer-reviewed study published in Nature Portfolio's npj Antimicrobials and Resistance found prescribing accuracy improved from 47% to 100% with Ask Eolas at the point of care. Resources Eolas Medical: https://www.eolasmedical.com/ Study — Enhancing quality of antimicrobial prescribing through 'Ask Eolas' (language model): a user-testing and simulation evaluation: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44259-026-00187-7 Summary of study: Eolas Medical — Summary of the study and implications for antimicrobial stewardship Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro: Website: letstalkmicro.com Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com Interested in being a guest on Let's Talk Micro? Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/V2fT3asjfyusmqyi8 Support the podcast: Venmo Buy me a Ko-fi
- Sep 3, 20261h 0m
242: Microbiology & Infection Prevention: Partners in Crime
Let's Talk Micro is back for a new season! In this season premiere, Luis is joined by Dr. Megan Amerson-Brown to discuss the important connection between clinical microbiology and infection prevention. Dr. Amerson-Brown shares her career journey from the microbiology bench to infection prevention and ultimately laboratory leadership. She discusses how microbiologists contribute to infection prevention through surveillance, diagnostic stewardship, outbreak investigations, and collaboration with infection prevention teams. The conversation also explores how laboratorians can become more involved in infection prevention while remaining in the laboratory, resources and certifications for those interested in the field, the importance of mentorship, and potential career pathways for microbiologists considering a transition into infection prevention. Tune in to the season premiere and learn more about the role microbiologists play in infection prevention and the opportunities available both at and beyond the bench. Additional Resources a-IPC™ (Associate – Infection Prevention and Control) Examination — Information about the entry-level infection prevention and control certification discussed during the episode. CIC® (Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology) Examination — Information about the CIC certification examination. APIC – Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology — Education, career development, and other resources for infection prevention professionals. Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro: Website: letstalkmicro.com Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com Interested in being a guest on Let's Talk Micro? Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/V2fT3asjfyusmqyi8 Support the podcast: Venmo Buy me a Ko-fi
- Jul 2, 202635 min
241: What Can Whole Genome Sequencing Realistically Tell Us About Resistance?
Recorded live at ASM Microbe 2026 in Washington, DC, this special episode marks the first live recording of Let's Talk Micro. Joining me are co-host Dr. Andrea Prinzi and guest Dr. Nathan Ledeboer for a discussion on the evolving role of whole genome sequencing (WGS) in clinical microbiology and antimicrobial resistance. Can whole genome sequencing predict antimicrobial susceptibility? What are its current limitations? How close are we to incorporating WGS into routine clinical microbiology laboratories? Throughout the conversation, we explore the opportunities and challenges of implementing sequencing technologies, including bioinformatics, workflow, reimbursement, and the need for continued collaboration between microbiologists, infectious diseases specialists, pharmacists, and antimicrobial stewardship teams. We also discuss how WGS may transform outbreak investigations, epidemiologic surveillance, and the future role of the clinical microbiologist as advanced diagnostics become increasingly integrated into patient care. Whether you're a bench microbiologist, laboratory leader, infectious diseases professional, or student, this episode offers an exciting look at where clinical microbiology is headed and what whole genome sequencing can realistically tell us about antimicrobial resistance. Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro: Website: letstalkmicro.com Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com Interested in being a guest on Let's Talk Micro? Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/V2fT3asjfyusmqyi8 Support the podcast: Venmo Buy me a Ko-fi
- Jun 30, 202643 min
240: CLSI M100 2026: Actualizaciones
En este episodio en español de Let's Talk Micro, Luis conversa nuevamente con el Dr. Germán Esparza sobre los cambios más relevantes incluidos en la edición 2026 del documento CLSI M100. Durante la conversación, revisan nuevas opciones terapéuticas como aztreonam-avibactam, actualizaciones en los puntos de corte para Acinetobacter y Neisseria gonorrhoeae, cambios en aminoglucósidos, consideraciones de control de calidad y los desafíos asociados con las pruebas de susceptibilidad para el complejo Burkholderia cepacia. Además, discuten cómo los laboratorios pueden evaluar e implementar estos cambios de manera segura, la importancia de la colaboración con los programas de optimización de antimicrobianos y ofrecen un adelanto de la próxima edición del documento CLSI M45. Temas discutidos: Aztreonam-avibactam y resistencia antimicrobiana Actualizaciones de puntos de corte y pruebas de susceptibilidad Control de calidad e implementación de cambios en el laboratorio Avances y perspectivas para CLSI M45 🔗 Recursos Acceda gratuitamente al CLSI M100: https://em100.edaptivedocs.net/Login.aspx Manténgase conectado con Let's Talk Micro: Página web: letstalkmicro.com ¿Preguntas o comentarios? Escríba a letstalkmicro@outlook.com ¿Le interesa participar como invitado en Let's Talk Micro? Complete el siguiente formulario: https://forms.gle/V2fT3asjfyusmqyi8 Apoya el pódcast: Venmo Buy me a Ko-fi
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About 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.
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