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 means for the future of diagnostics, stewardship, and patient care.

Learn more about ID Week : https://idweek.org/

Infectious Diseases Society of America: https://www.idsociety.org/

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En este episodio en español de Let 's Talk Micro, el Dr. Germán Esparza Sánchez , microbiólogo clínico, miembro del CLSI y consultor de la OPS/OMS, comparte las actualizaciones más recientes del documento M100 y cómo impactan la práctica microbiológica.

Desde la eliminación de puntos de corte para Burkholderia cepacia hasta los nuevos antibióticos como aztreonam-avibactam, durlobactam-sulbactam y cefiderocol, analizamos los retos de aplicar las guías del CLSI en los laboratorios latinoamericanos, las diferencias epidemiológicas regionales y la importancia de la educación continua para combatir la resistencia antimicrobiana (RAM).

Además, el Dr. Esparza comenta sobre el trabajo regional que realizan organizaciones como la Asociación Panamericana de Infectología (API) y COLABIOCLI, que promueven la colaboración científica y la mejora de los laboratorios en América Latina.

• Asociación Panamericana de Infectología (API)

• COLABIOCLI

• Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS)

• Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS)

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Puerto Rico is entering a new era in microbiome research. In this episode,  Luis speaks with Dr. Filipa Godoy-Vitorino about the newly established Microbiome Center of Puerto Rico — a hub designed to strengthen research, collaboration, and training across the Caribbean.

Dr. Godoy-Vitorino shares how the center is helping scientists access expertise in bioinformatics and data analysis, offering bilingual workshops, and expanding representation of Caribbean populations in global microbiome studies. She also discusses the center’s vision to connect with international partners, support local innovation, and create opportunities for the next generation of researchers.

🎧 Tune in to learn how this center is putting Puerto Rico on the global microbiome map.

• The Microbiota Vault: microbiotavault.org

• ISME (International Society for Microbial Ecology): isme-microbes.org

• ISALA Project (University of Antwerp): isala.be

• “Solutions to expand microbiome sciences in the Caribbean Region: an insider’s perspective” by Filipa Godoy-Vitorino — Trends in Microbiology, 2025. View PDF / Article: ScienceDirect link ScienceDirect

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In this second half of our discussion with Dr. Erin McCreary and Dr. Hannah Creager, we dive deeper into how microbiology and antimicrobial stewardship teams collaborate to improve patient outcomes.

They unpack how to prioritize breakpoint updates, the pros and cons of cascade reporting, and what nudges can do to guide better prescribing. Then we explore a powerful example of collaboration—the transition from MRSA agar to PCR across hospitals—and what it taught both teams about communication, resource sharing, and patient safety.

Finally, Erin and Hannah reflect on lessons learned, first steps for building collaboration, and even share their favorite microbes (spoiler: both picked viruses!).

🎧 Tune in to learn how intentional teamwork between the lab and stewardship can transform patient care and lab efficiency.

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Good communication isn’t optional—it’s essential for patient care. In Part 1 of this two-part series, Dr. Erin McCreary and Dr. Hannah Creager join Luis to talk about how microbiology labs and antimicrobial stewardship teams can collaborate more effectively. They share real-world examples from their system-wide work—aligning AST panels and breakpoints across multiple platforms, navigating reporting challenges like the clindamycin D-test and rifampin comments, and building consistent communication through monthly micro–stewardship meetings. It’s a behind-the-scenes look at how strong collaboration turns into better patient outcomes.

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The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has released new guidelines for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections. In this episode, we break down the key updates:

• Changes to the definition of complicated UTIs

• The role of newer antibiotic agents

• How and when to use antibiograms

• A four-step framework for guiding therapy

• When carbapenems are necessary—and when other options may be just as effective

• Shorter durations of therapy

Join Dr. Barbara Trautner, Dr. Nicolas Cortés-Penfield, and Dr. Kalpana Gupta as they discuss what these guidelines mean for clinicians, microbiologists, and patients.

👉 Stay tuned until the end for a special announcement.

Resources from this episode:

• 2025 cUTI IDSA guidelines

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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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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

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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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