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 resistance

• The role of stewardship programs in maximizing results

• What the future holds: direct-from-blood testing, nanotechnology, and AI

A powerful look at how innovation in microbiology is changing the fight against sepsis and saving lives.

This episode is sponsored by bioMérieux, a global innovator in infectious disease diagnostics.

Resources from this episode:

• bioMérieux Sepsis Webinar

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• Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com

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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 themselves while delivering accurate results. Whether you’re a student, laboratorian, or clinician, this conversation highlights what you need to know about the evolving landscape of Brucella diagnostics and safety.

Resources from this episode:

• CDC’s Brucellosis Information Page
  
  

• ASM Updates on Brucella
  
  

Stay connected with Let’s Talk Micro:

• Website: letstalkmicro.com
  
  

• Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com
  
  

Support the podcast:

• Venmo
  
  

• Buy me a Ko-fi

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 promising new compounds, including NG1 and DN1, which showed activity against drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Staphylococcus aureus. We also talk about the challenges of bringing discoveries from computer models to the clinic, and what this approach could mean for the future of the fight against superbugs.

Link to study: https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674%2825%2900855-4

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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 microbiology labs.

This episode was originally released in 2022 (Episode 39: “Talking disk diffusion performed on early growth”).

Link to disk diffusion study: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.03007-20

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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, agreement rates with standard methods, and what faster AST means for patient care and antimicrobial stewardship.

Link to study: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00236-25

Link to disk diffusion study: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.03007-20

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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 to preserve these options. Plus, Dr. Kunz-Coyne reveals her favorite bug—Stenotrophomonas maltophilia—and why it’s unlike any other.

Link to sulopenem episode: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/35868135

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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 of the 21st Century Cures Act.

What is the Cures Act, and how does it affect the way breakpoints are adopted? Why are delays still happening? And most importantly—what can laboratories, organizations, and manufacturers do to drive change?

Tune in to understand where we’ve been, where we are, and where we need to go in the world of AST.

This episode is sponsored by bioMérieux, a global innovator in infectious disease diagnostics.

Resources from bioMérieux: https://info.biomerieux.com/clin_us_2024_ams_handbook?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=LetsTalkMicro

Additional breakpoint links: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00106-25

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This episode of Let’s Talk Micro features Dr. Andrea Prinzi, a clinical microbiologist and frequent contributor to the American Society for Microbiology. Andrea joins the podcast to discuss a critical topic in clinical microbiology: antimicrobial susceptibility testing and breakpoints.

Are labs using outdated breakpoints—and what does that mean for patient care? How are breakpoints determined and updated? Dr. Prinzi breaks it all down and shares insights from her article on the subject.

Tune in to learn why staying current on breakpoints matters and what steps labs can take to improve antimicrobial stewardship.

This episode was originally published on May 5th, 2022.

Check out the website: https://www.letstalkmicro.com/

Link to articles: https://asm.org/Articles/2022/February/Updating-Breakpoints-in-Antimicrobial-Susceptibili

https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00106-25

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