Episode notes
ASM Microbe is the largest microbiology meeting in the United States, bringing together thousands of scientists, laboratorians, clinicians, and industry partners to discuss the latest advances in microbiology. In this episode, Luis shares highlights from ASM Microbe 2026, including sessions on diagnostic challenges, antimicrobial resistance, rapid susceptibility testing, emerging therapeutics, laboratory automation, phage therapy, and whole-genome sequencing. Topics include a Brucella case that reinforces the importance of Gram stain interpretation, updates on resistance mechanisms in…
Podcast
Let's Talk Micro
Luis Plaza · Tech & Science · English
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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S6 · E244 · 17 Sep 2026 · 57 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…
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S6 · E243 · 10 Sep 2026 · 46 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…
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S6 · E242 · 3 Sep 2026 · 1 hr
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…
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S5 · E241 · 2 Jul 2026 · 35 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…
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S5 · E240 · 30 Jun 2026 · 44 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…
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S5 · E238 · 18 Jun 2026 · 51 min
238: From the Bench to CPEP: An MLS Journey
What does it take to go from working at the bench to becoming a future clinical microbiology laboratory director? In this episode, Luis is joined by Dr. Mackenzie Collins, a CPEP fellow at UCLA, to discuss her journey from Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) to PhD scientist and CPEP fellow. Mackenzie shares how she discovered laboratory medicine, her experience working as an MLS in molecular microbiology, and the mentors and opportunities that helped shape her career path. The conversation explores the CPEP fellowship, the role of laboratory directors, and how MLS professionals can…
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S5 · E237 · 11 Jun 2026 · 13 min
237: Micro Minutes: A Case of Mistaken Identity
Have you ever received an identification result that just didn't make sense? In this episode, Luis shares three cases of mistaken identity from the microbiology laboratory: a Gram-positive rod identified as Kocuria, another reported as Sphingomonas, and a yeast that somehow became Brucella. While automated identification systems are powerful tools, they can only work with the information we provide. These examples highlight an important lesson for every microbiologist: always correlate the identification with the Gram stain, colony morphology, and other bench observations. When the result…
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S5 · E236 · 4 Jun 2026 · 31 min
236: Let's Talk Andes Virus
In Part 2 of this hantavirus series, Luis continues the conversation with Dr. Ryan Relich and Dr. Stephanie Seifert by focusing on the recent Andes virus cruise ship outbreak and what makes this hantavirus different from others. The discussion explores the outbreak investigation, the evidence for person-to-person transmission, and why the Andes virus has received so much attention from the public health community. Ryan and Stephanie also discuss diagnostic testing, including PCR and serology, the role of public health laboratories, current treatment options, prevention strategies, and how…
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S5 · E235 · 28 May 2026 · 44 min
235: Let's Talk Hantavirus
Hantaviruses have recently been in the headlines, but what exactly are they and how do they spread? In Part 1 of this hantavirus series, Luis is joined by Dr. Ryan Relich and Dr. Stephanie Seifert for a deep dive into the world of hantaviruses. The conversation explores the basics of hantaviruses, including their ecology, rodent reservoirs, transmission, and the diseases they cause in humans. The guests also discuss Old World vs New World hantaviruses, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS), environmental risk factors, climate influences, and why these infections may be underdiagnosed. From…
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S5 · E234 · 21 May 2026 · 29 min
234: High School, the Laboratory, and Workforce Development
Workforce shortages continue to impact clinical laboratories across the country, especially in rural healthcare settings. In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Kenzi Haigler to discuss an innovative high school laboratory program designed to introduce students to laboratory medicine early and help strengthen the future workforce pipeline. Kenzi shares her journey into the laboratory profession, her experiences working in rural healthcare, and the unique challenges small hospitals face when it comes to staffing, training, and retaining laboratory professionals. She also…
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