• 28 minutes 50 seconds
    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 explains how her community came together to create a hands-on clinical laboratory assistant program that gives students exposure to phlebotomy, microscopy, waived testing, and laboratory workflows before graduation.

    This conversation highlights the importance of mentorship, early exposure to laboratory medicine, and creative approaches to workforce development in clinical laboratory science.

    Follow Kenzi on TikTok: @lablifewithmrsh

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    21 May 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 22 minutes 6 seconds
    233: The Background Singers of Gram-Negative Cocci

    In 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 respiratory cultures and oral flora plates every day.

    We explore the world of non-pathogenic Neisseria species, along with rod-shaped and coccobacillary Neisseria and Moraxella that break the classic gram-negative diplococci rule. From commensals and opportunistic pathogens to their role in respiratory cultures and bench identification, this episode focuses on how to think through these isolates in the clinical microbiology laboratory.

    As always, we tie it back to the bench—because sometimes the organisms sitting quietly in the background still matter.

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    14 May 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 55 minutes 59 seconds
    232: What's New at ASM Microbe 2026?

    This 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. Bobbi Pritt and Dr. Robert Tibbetts to discuss what attendees can expect from this year's meeting in Washington, DC.

    The conversation covers the new meeting structure, important trends in clinical microbiology, sessions and workshops geared toward medical laboratory scientists, networking opportunities, and tips for getting the most out of the conference experience. They also discuss hot topics such as AI-driven diagnostics, whole genome sequencing, metagenomics, phage therapy, antimicrobial resistance, and the future direction of clinical microbiology.

    Whether you are attending ASM Microbe for the first time or returning as a seasoned attendee, this episode offers a practical preview of what's ahead and highlights opportunities especially relevant to the clinical microbiology laboratory community.

    Topics discussed:

    • Changes to ASM Microbe 2026

    • Sessions and workshops for MLS professionals

    • AI and digital diagnostics

    • Whole genome sequencing and metagenomics

    • Antimicrobial resistance and AST

    • Phage therapy and microbiome-focused sessions

    • Networking and professional development

    • Tips for first-time attendees

    ASM Resources

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    7 May 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 17 minutes 30 seconds
    231: The Hockey Puck Bug: Moraxella catarrhalis

    In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, we continue our gram-negative cocci series with a closer look at Moraxella catarrhalis—better known at the bench as the hockey puck bug.

    We break down what makes this organism unique, from its classic sliding colony morphology to how it behaves in different patient populations. Is it a colonizer or a pathogen? The answer depends on the clinical context. We walk through its role in pediatric infections like otitis media and sinusitis, its significance in adults—especially in COPD—and how to interpret its presence in respiratory cultures.

    As always, we tie it back to the bench, discussing identification clues, culture considerations, and what it means when you see this organism on your plate.

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    30 April 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 25 minutes 22 seconds
    230: Same Gram Stain, Different Story: Neisseria meningitidis vs gonorrhoeae

    In this week's episode, we continue our series on gram-negative cocci and take a closer look at two of the most important organisms: Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

    On the Gram stain, they may look the same—but clinically, they represent very different scenarios.

    We walk through colonization, transmission, and key virulence factors, and connect them to the infections they cause—from meningitis and invasive disease to mucosal and disseminated gonococcal infections.

    We also bring it back to the bench, discussing specimen source, testing approaches like NAAT and culture, and how to think through these organisms in real-world laboratory settings.

    Looking to stay up to date with the latest clinical microbiology resources? Check out Wiley's ClinMicroNow—bringing trusted ASM Press content into one powerful, searchable platform : 🔗 https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781683670438?utm_source=extweb&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=lets_talk_micro_podcast_ptnr&utm_content=mid-roll-ad&utm_term=clinmicronow

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    23 April 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 25 minutes 31 seconds
    229: Gram-Negative Cocci: Beyond the Plate

    In this episode we continue our gram-negative cocci series by moving beyond the plate and into modern identification methods.

    From traditional systems like VITEK and RapID NH to MALDI-TOF and molecular testing, we explore how these organisms are identified in today's clinical microbiology lab. We also break down the role of NAATs and syndromic panels in detecting organisms like Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, especially in situations where culture may be delayed or negative.

    This episode focuses on how these tools fit into real-world workflows—highlighting their advantages, limitations, and how to interpret results at the bench.

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    16 April 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 27 minutes 36 seconds
    228: Gram-Negative Cocci: What to Do After the Gram Stain

    In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, we continue our gram-negative cocci series by focusing on what to do after the Gram stain. You've identified gram-negative cocci—now what?

    We take a practical, bench-focused approach to working these organisms up, covering key culture media like blood agar, chocolate agar, and selective media such as Modified Thayer-Martin and Martin-Lewis. We also review collection and transport considerations, including JEMBEC and CO₂ requirements for Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

    We then dive into commonly used tests, including ONPG for differentiating Neisseria lactamica and Neisseria meningitidis, the CTA test and its limitations, and the butyrate esterase test for identifying Moraxella catarrhalis.

    This episode is all about building confidence at the bench—connecting what you see to what you do next.

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    9 April 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 19 minutes 51 seconds
    227: When Gram-Negative Cocci Show Up: How to Think at the Bench

    In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, we kick off a new series on gram-negative cocci by starting where it all begins—the Gram stain.

    Seeing gram-negative diplococci on a smear can feel intimidating, especially when you're on the bench and need to make the right call. In this episode, we focus on how to approach that moment with confidence. We walk through the key organisms you'll encounter, including Neisseria, Moraxella, and Veillonella, and discuss how morphology, specimen source, and clinical context all come together to guide your thinking. We also revisit a correction from a previous episode regarding carbohydrate utilization in Neisseria species.

    This episode is all about building a strong foundation—how to think before jumping to identification.

    Stay tuned for the next episode, where we'll dive into the media and tests used to identify these organisms in the lab.

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    2 April 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 39 minutes 4 seconds
    226: CLSI M100 2026 Updates

    The CLSI M100 gets updated every year—but what do those changes actually mean for the microbiology lab?

    In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Dr. April Bobenchik to break down the latest updates in the CLSI M100 2026 (36th edition) and how they translate into real-world lab practice.

    They walk through important breakpoint changes, including aztreonam–avibactam and updates for Acinetobacter, along with new additions like trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole breakpoints for beta-hemolytic streptococci. Another notable update this year is the updated anaerobic antibiogram and how it can be used to help guide decisions in the lab. The conversation also touches on antimicrobial tiers, why some breakpoints are temporarily removed, and practical ways labs can approach implementing new updates.

    If you work in clinical microbiology, this episode will help you stay current and confident with the latest M100 changes.

    🔗 Resources

    Access CLSI M100 for free: https://em100.edaptivedocs.net/Login.aspx

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    26 March 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 1 minute 9 seconds
    Quick Update from Let's Talk Micro

    Luis here with a quick update! We're taking a short break and will return the week of March 23rd. During this time, it's a great opportunity to explore the archive—Let's Talk Micro has over 200 episodes covering many topics in clinical microbiology. New episodes will be back soon. Thanks for listening and for being part of the Let's Talk Micro community.

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    10 March 2026, 11:00 pm
  • 57 minutes 27 seconds
    225: Too Many Bugs, One Culture: A CMPH Guide to Wound Cultures

    Wound cultures are some of the most complex specimens encountered in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Unlike more straightforward cultures, wound specimens often contain multiple organisms, making it challenging to determine which microbes are clinically significant and which represent colonization.

    In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Dr. Christopher Doern and Dr. Alexandra Bryson to discuss the wound culture guidelines from the Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook (CMPH) and how they can help laboratorians navigate these challenging cultures.

    Together, they explore practical approaches to interpreting polymicrobial wound cultures, deciding which organisms to work up, and balancing thorough reporting with antimicrobial stewardship. The discussion also covers specimen collection challenges, the role of Gram stains in evaluating specimen quality, guidance on working up common wound pathogens, and strategies to streamline laboratory workflows.

    Whether you're a student, a new microbiology technologist, or an experienced laboratorian, this episode offers practical insights to help you confidently approach wound cultures and apply CMPH guidance at the bench.

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    6 March 2026, 12:00 am
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