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216: AMR Summit 2025: One Health, One Fight

Let's Talk Micro

Release Date: 12/12/2025

219: Tick-Borne Diseases: The Lab and Diagnostics show art 219: Tick-Borne Diseases: The Lab and Diagnostics

Let's Talk Micro

Tick-borne diseases continue to expand across North America, but diagnosing them in the clinical laboratory remains complex—especially when timing between symptom onset and testing isn’t considered. In this episode of Let’s Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Kyle Rodino, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Assistant Director of Microbiology, for a lab-focused discussion on tick-borne disease diagnostics. They cover major bacterial, parasitic, and viral causes of tick-borne disease, and walk through how molecular testing, serology, and...

info_outline 218: Metagenomics in Clinical Microbiology show art 218: Metagenomics in Clinical Microbiology

Let's Talk Micro

In this episode of Let’s Talk Micro, we break down metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) and how it’s changing the way we diagnose complex infectious diseases. I’m joined by Steve Miller, MD, PhD—Chief Medical Officer at Delve Bio—to discuss how unbiased metagenomics moved from research labs into real-world clinical practice. We cover what metagenomics is, how it differs from targeted PCR and sequencing, and where it adds the most value—especially in meningitis and encephalitis, immunocompromised patients, and cases where routine testing comes back negative. Dr. Miller...

info_outline 217: Micro Minutes: Don’t Let PEA Fool You show art 217: Micro Minutes: Don’t Let PEA Fool You

Let's Talk Micro

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 differ from blood agar Why Lancefield grouping should never be performed directly...

info_outline 216: AMR Summit 2025: One Health, One Fight show art 216: AMR Summit 2025: One Health, One Fight

Let's Talk Micro

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 throughout the meeting—shared accountability, One Health collaboration, diagnostic innovation,...

info_outline 215: One Health, Many Species: AMR Through a Veterinary Lens show art 215: One Health, Many Species: AMR Through a Veterinary Lens

Let's Talk Micro

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, antimicrobial stewardship, and CLSI veterinary standards. Together, they explore AMR and AST through a...

info_outline 214: Beyond the Bench: Optimization & Stewardship in Action show art 214: Beyond the Bench: Optimization & Stewardship in Action

Let's Talk Micro

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 strategies that ensure the right tests are used at the right time, and that workflows support...

info_outline 213: Micro Minutes: When Bacteria Break the Rules show art 213: Micro Minutes: When Bacteria Break the Rules

Let's Talk Micro

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 oxidase negative A fast, practical reminder that no single biochemical test should...

info_outline 212: Micro Minutes: Sometimes MacConkey Lies show art 212: Micro Minutes: Sometimes MacConkey Lies

Let's Talk Micro

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 today we break down why.   Stay connected with Let’s Talk Micro: Website:...

info_outline 211: At the Speed of AST: Diagnosing Resistance Faster show art 211: At the Speed of AST: Diagnosing Resistance Faster

Let's Talk Micro

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 testing, and how it’s transforming patient care, antimicrobial stewardship, and...

info_outline 210: IDWeek 2025 Highlights: From Bench to Bedside show art 210: IDWeek 2025 Highlights: From Bench to Bedside

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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 from afar, this episode captures the energy and innovation of IDWeek — and what it...

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More Episodes

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 throughout the meeting—shared accountability, One Health collaboration, diagnostic innovation, payer perspectives, and the urgent need for equitable access to testing. You’ll hear about surprising insights, personal stories that brought AMR’s impact into sharp focus, and the collaborative projects already taking root as a result of this year’s summit.

Whether you're on the bench, managing stewardship programs, shaping policy, or simply passionate about the future of diagnostics, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the conversations and partnerships driving AMR action forward.

Thank you to Lauren, Linoj, and Robert for joining me—and to everyone committed to advancing the fight against AMR. One Health, one fight.

 

 Additional Resources from the 2024 AMR Summit

If you’d like to explore more background from last year’s summit, here are two excellent resources:

 

 Want to Contribute or Get Involved?

If you’re interested in contributing ideas, collaborating on AMR initiatives, or learning more about future AMR Summits, you can reach out directly to:

Dr. Lauren Hunt

 📧 lauren.hunt@biomerieux.com

 

Stay connected with Let’s Talk Micro:

 

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