What exactly is agar, and why is it essential in microbiology? In this episode of Let’s Talk Micro, we explore the different types of agar used in the lab—from blood agar to MacConkey—and what they help us detect. Whether you’re culturing bacteria or interpreting results, understanding agar is fundamental.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Micro, I cover the basics of the Gram stain technique—from sample requirements to slide prep and staining. A quick refresher on a core microbiology skill!

The Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook (CMPH)—a cornerstone resource for clinical labs—has just released its 5th edition. In this episode of Let’s Talk Micro, I’m joined by the editors-in-chief, Dr. Amy Leber and Dr. Carey-Ann Burnham, to discuss what’s new, what’s essential, and why the CMPH continues to be a trusted reference in clinical microbiology. What role does it play in the lab? How has it evolved? Tune in to find out.

Link to ClinMicroNow: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781683670438

Some of you may be familiar with the popular Parasite Wonders blog. In this episode of Let’s Talk Micro, Luis is joined by its creator, Dr. Bobbi Pritt, Director of the Parasitology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic.

They dive into key questions: What specimens are typically tested for parasites? What testing methods are used? Is there a role for digital parasitology? Dr. Pritt shares her insights and expertise on all things parasitic. Curious to learn more? Tune in to this fascinating conversation!

Link to blog: https://parasitewonders.blogspot.com Link to website: http://parasitewonders.com/

Season 3 kicks off with the second episode of the AMR sub-series—this time focusing on beta-lactam antibiotics. Luis and Dr. Andrea Prinzi are joined by Dr. Brian Raux, a pharmacist, to discuss beta-lactam drug classes, mechanism of action, intrinsic resistance, and CLSI guidance. A must-listen for anyone interested in antimicrobial resistance.

Thinking about getting certified in microbiology but not sure where to start? In this episode Luis chats with Dr. Amanda Harrington about certification options through the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP).

They cover how to qualify, what the Specialist in Microbiology (SM) is all about, and even options if you haven’t gone through a traditional MLS program. If you’re curious about leveling up in the lab—this one’s for you!

Link to certifications in Microbiology from ASCP:

https://www.ascp.org/content/board-of-certification/get-credentialed?srsltid=AfmBOoo4i6_pt4DLUEKUJmclab7AJkFp1bZlPGibNnIqLb-jgp3JGgvO#

Ever wondered what it’s like to work in a veterinary diagnostic lab? What kind of training is needed—and can an MLS make the switch from human to animal diagnostics?

In this episode of Let’s Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Kelli Maddock and Sarah Gefroh from the North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Both are Medical Laboratory Scientists who transitioned from human to veterinary medicine.

They share insights on culturing veterinary specimens, antimicrobial guidelines, and what makes vet lab work both similar and uniquely different. Tune in to explore this fascinating side of the lab world!

The latest edition of the CLSI M100 has been published. What are the latest updates? One of them is the deletion of breakpoints for Burkholderia cepacia complex. What are the recommendations for susceptibility testing? Dr. April Bobenchik returns to the podcast to talk to Luis about the latest updates. She also talks about the M45. Will there be an update to the M45? Tune in to find out. Link to CLSI free resources: https://clsi.org/all-free-resources/

Link to webinar: https://clsi.org/standards/products/microbiology/documents/m100/

Throwback to a great episode!

The field of Microbiology continues to change. Organisms were primarily identified in the clinical laboratory by biochemical testing. Then MALDI-TOF came to the lab and was incorporated into the workflow. Now labs are bringing next-generation sequencing (NGS). What is NGS? How does it work? Have you heard of Nanopore technologies? In this episode Dr. Jose Alexander and Daniel Navas from Advent Health Orlando, join the podcast to talk about NGS. They brought it to their laboratory and discussed the whole process, including the validation, challenges, and more.

This episode was originally published on February 9th, 2024

This week Luis is joined by Dr. Callan Bleick and Dr. Mohammed Al Musawa to talk about an antibiotic that was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): aztreonam-avibactam. Our guests wrote a review about this drug and they joined the podcast to talk about it. What is aztreonam? What is avibactam? Why combine them? What type of activity has it demonstrated against beta-lactamase producing organisms? When will it be available? Tune in for more information.

Link to review: https://accpjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/phar.4629