Let's Talk Micro
by Luis Plaza
Latest episode
250: Metallo-β-Lactamases: The Rise of NDM and Beyond
250: Metallo-β-Lactamases: The Rise of NDM and Beyond
About this podcast
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.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 259 episodes
- 250: Metallo-β-Lactamases: The Rise of NDM and Beyond · 47 min · Season 6 Episode 250Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs) have become an increasingly important topic in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases. While these enzymes were once encountered relatively…
- 249: Micro Minutes: CLSI M100: Beyond S, I, and R · 15 min · Season 6 Episode 249When you open CLSI M100, what are you usually looking for? Susceptibility breakpoints? But did you know there's much more information available beyond susceptible, intermediate…
- 248: Micro Minutes: What's in a name- Bacterial Groups and Complexes · 16 min · Season 6 Episode 203Have you ever performed an organism identification using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and received a result showing multiple possible species, such as Enterobacter cloacae and…
- 247: Digital Biology: Data Quality in the Age of AI · 50 min · Season 6 Episode 247As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated into biological research, the quality of the data used to develop these technologies is more important than ever…
- 246: Inside ATCC: From Biological Materials to the Bench · 46 min · Season 6 Episode 246Many microbiology professionals are familiar with ATCC strains used for quality control, validation, and verification—but what happens before those biological materials reach the…
- World Rabies Day: Revisiting Rabies with Dr. Rodney Rohde · 52 min · Season 6Originally published on September 28, 2022, this episode returns to the Let's Talk Micro feed in recognition of World Rabies Day. Dr. Rodney Rohde joins the podcast to discuss…
- 245: Antimicrobials Conference: The Next Chapter for MAD-ID and SIDP · 43 min · Season 6 Episode 245MAD-ID (Making a Difference in Infectious Diseases) and the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists (SIDP) have joined forces to create a new annual meeting focused on…
- 244: Group A Strep: Breaking Down the New IDSA Guidelines · 57 min · Season 6 Episode 244Group 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…
- 243: When AI Meets Medicine · 46 min · Season 6 Episode 243Artificial 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…
- 242: Microbiology & Infection Prevention: Partners in Crime · 1 h 0 min · Season 6 Episode 242Let'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…
- 241: What Can Whole Genome Sequencing Realistically Tell Us About Resistance? · 35 min · Season 5 Episode 241Recorded 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…
- 240: CLSI M100 2026: Actualizaciones · 44 min · Season 5 Episode 240En 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…
- 239: Inside ASM Microbe 2026 · 21 min · Season 5 Episode 239ASM Microbe is the largest microbiology meeting in the United States, bringing together thousands of scientists, laboratorians, clinicians, and industry partners to discuss the…
- 238: From the Bench to CPEP: An MLS Journey · 51 min · Season 5 Episode 238What 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…
- 237: Micro Minutes: A Case of Mistaken Identity · 13 min · Season 5 Episode 237Have 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…
- 236: Let's Talk Andes Virus · 31 min · Season 5 Episode 236In 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…
- 235: Let's Talk Hantavirus · 44 min · Season 5 Episode 235Hantaviruses 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…
- 234: High School, the Laboratory, and Workforce Development · 29 min · Season 5 Episode 234Workforce 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…
- 233: The Background Singers of Gram-Negative Cocci · 22 min · Season 5 Episode 233In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, we close out our gram-negative cocci series by talking about the "background singers" of the group—the organisms that quietly show up on…
- 232: What's New at ASM Microbe 2026? · 56 min · Season 5 Episode 232This week, Let's Talk Micro is pausing the Gram-negative cocci series to talk about one of the biggest microbiology meetings of the year: ASM Microbe 2026. Luis is joined by Dr…
