Podcasts about clinical microbiology

The ESCMID Global Late Breakers series returns to Communicable! Five CMI Communications editors – Marc Bonten, Josh Davis, Angela Huttner, Anne-Grete Märtson, and Erin McCreary – handpicked five late-breaking trials presented at ESCMID Global 2026 to summarise their  findings and discuss whether the results will change their practice. This is part one of the two-part series. Trials presented are listed below and links to their respective sessions can be watched and rewatched on the ESCMID Global Virtual Platform. Links to corresponding publications, if available, and mentioned related articles are provided as well. The FAST trial (Late-breaking research from JAMA)Banerjee R, et al. Fast Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing for Gram-Negative Bacteremia. The FAST Randomized Clinical Trial, doi: 10.1001/jama.2026.5487 Srinivasan A. A Multinational Trial of Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. Is FASTer Better?, doi: 10.1001/jama.2026.5504The CEFMEC trial (Poster session)Hayakawa K, et al. Effectiveness of cefmetazole versus meropenem for invasive urinary tract infections caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli, Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023, doi: 10.1128/aac.00510-23The COBRA trial (Late-breaking trials in surgical infection prevention)Overdevest AG, et al. Antibiotic treatment for 1 day versus 4-7 days in patients with acute cholangitis after adequate endoscopic biliary drainage (COBRA): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials, doi: 10.1186/s13063-026-09524-7The DOTS trial, a secondary analysis (Late-breaking research from JAMA)Lodise, TP, et al. Pharmacokinetics of Dalbavancin in Complicated Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: A Secondary Analysis of the DOTS Randomized Clinical Trial, JAMA 2026, doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.11652 Walls G, et al. Patient-reported Perceptions, Experiences, and Preferences Around Intravenous and Oral Antibiotics for the Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: A Descriptive Qualitative Study, Clin Infect Dis 2026, doi: 10.1093/cid/ciaf522Turner  NA , et al.  Dalbavancin for treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: the DOTS randomized clinical trial. JAMA 2025, doi: 10.1001/jama.2025.12543 Maribavir for clinically significant cytomegalovirus infection in hematopoietic cell transplantation: a real-world retrospective international study of the Infectious Disease Working Party of EBMT (Late-breaking research from The Lancet)Paviglianiti A, et al. Maribavir for clinically significant cytomegalovirus infection in haematopoietic cell transplant recipients in Europe: a real-world multicentre retrospective registry study. Lancet 2026. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(26)00144-1

A new survey from Safefood Ireland says many of us are not following the rule of kitchen safety properly. So, what are our worst kitchen hygiene habits?Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester.

A new survey from Safefood Ireland says many of us are not following the rule of kitchen safety properly. So, what are our worst kitchen hygiene habits?Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, welcomes Brad Karon, M.D., Ph.D., division chair for Mayo Clinic's Clinical Core Laboratory Services and a member of the laboratory and pathologist stewardship team, to discuss laboratory stewardship strategies and why they matter.Why lab stewardship is important (00:44): How improved test utilization benefits laboratories, healthcare systems, and patients.Strategies for promoting lab stewardship (03:40): Proven approaches for improving appropriate test utilization.How industry disrupters will change stewardship efforts (09:33): How artificial intelligence and other emerging disruptors may reshape lab stewardship efforts.Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.ResourcesFroedtert and the Medical College of Wisconsin: Promoting laboratory stewardship through clinical decision supportFive steps to optimizing your outreach test menuHospital-owned labs generate long-term financial and clinical value

Every spring, the province puts out a warning about hantavirus, which can spread through contact with dust contaminated by deer mouse droppings or urine, is rare but can cause severe and sometimes fatal illness in humans. But it's making bigger headlines following the outbreak on a cruise ship. Dr. Joseph Blondeau, Saskatoon clinical microbiologist and Head of Clinical Microbiology at RUH and the University of Saskatchewan, joins the show to explain how the strain in Saskatchewan is different than the one contracted on the cruise ship and why the risk to the public remains low.

In this collaborative episode of Breakpoints and Communicable, the hosts revisit the “trial run” session from ESCMID Global, a format designed to facilitate critical discussion of major infectious diseases trials. This episode focuses on two studies addressing bloodstream infections caused by third‑generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales [1].Mical Paul (Rambam Health Care Campus, Israel) joins the podcast to discuss the PETER PEN trial [1,2], comparing piperacillin/tazobactam with meropenem, including its design, interim analyses, and interpretation alongside prior data such as MERINO. The episode also features Jesús Rodríguez‑Baño (University of Seville, Spain), who presents a post hoc analysis of the ASTARTE trial [1,3], comparing temocillin and carbapenems.This episode was edited by Lacy Worden and was peer reviewed by Jeanette Bouchard (Duke Antimicrobial Stewardship Outreach Network (DASON) Durham, NC, USA). ReferencesPaul, M., & Rodríguez-Baño, J. (2026, April 20). The trial run: treatment of ESBL bacteraemia - off to never-never land. [Presentation]. ESCMID Global 2026, Munich, Germany. ESCMID Global Virtual Platform.Bitterman R, Koppel F, Mussini C, et al. Piperacillin-tazobactam versus meropenem for treatment of bloodstream infections caused by third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae: a study protocol for a non-inferiority open-label randomised controlled trial (PeterPen). BMJ Open. 2021;11(2):e040210. Published 2021 Feb 8. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040210 Marín-Candón A, Rosso-Fernández CM, Bustos de Godoy N, et al. Temocillin versus meropenem for the targeted treatment of bacteraemia due to third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (ASTARTÉ): protocol for a randomised, pragmatic trial [Internet]. BMJ Open. 2021 Sep 27;11(9):e049481. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049481 Further readingHarris PNA, et al. Effect of Piperacillin-Tazobactam vs Meropenem on 30-Day Mortality for Patients With E coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae Bloodstream Infection and Ceftriaxone Resistance: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2018;320(10):984–994. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.12163.

Two Singapore residents who were aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship are currently being tested at NCID for the rare Andes strain of hantavirus, following its link to an overseas outbreak that has already caused fatalities.Although health authorities continue to assess the global risk as low, concern has been raised because this particular strain has, in rare instances, shown the potential for human-to-human transmission, prompting a rapid public health response in Singapore.So what is hantavirus, how is it spread, and should we be worried? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong and Professor Paul Tambyah, Former president of the Asia-Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection, unpack what is known so far, why this virus is drawing attention, and what the latest developments mean for Singapore.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8:05PM: FBI Boston Recovers 17th Century Reliquary Urn Stolen from Italian Church. Guest: Pasquale Morra – FBI Boston Special Agent 8:15PM: The FTC is cracking down on “Ghost Cars” – how some car dealers are pulling bait and switch tactics promoting or advertising cars that have already been sold or don’t exist at all to get folks into the dealership to sell them something else! What you need to know… Guest: Ray Shefska - Automotive retail analyst & founder of CarEdge 8:30PM: Hundreds of MNA Nurses and Healthcare Professionals Rallied at the State House Tuesday to reinforce the urgent need for Senate action on An Act Requiring Health Care Employers to Develop and Implement Programs to Prevent Workplace Violence (H.4767/S.1718). Guest: Liz Taylor - nurse at Beth Israel Deaconess Plymouth – who was at the rally 8:45PM: What is hantavirus? The rare and deadly virus that killed 3 on a cruise ship. Guest: Dr. Zoe Weiss - Director of Clinical Microbiology at Tufts Medical CenterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius has killed at least three passengers and sickened several others, with health officials reporting two confirmed and five suspected cases off the coast of Cape Verde. World Health Organization and international authorities are investigating and evacuating the ill, but say the risk to the general public remains very low. Dr. Joseph Blondeau, Saskatoon clinical microbiologist and Head of Clinical Microbiology at RUH and the University of Saskatchewan, joins the show to explain what hantavirus is and how rare human-to-human spread is.

This is a short message to Communicable listeners to inform them that the next episode will be released on Friday, 8 May, as it is a collaboration episode with Breakpoints, the podcast of the Society of Infectious Diseases Pharmacists. It will cover the two trials presented in Munich during ESCMID Global's late-breaker Trial Run session.

In his weekly clinical update, Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello are distressed by RFK Jr's testimony in front of Congress, surges in rotavirus infections and the staggering number of people who believe in unproven claims about vaccines and science, before Dr. Griffin then deep dives into the measles outbreak, recent statistics RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, the fatal consequences of measles infection, prevalence of influenza and other respiratory infections in dead people, PEMGARDA authorized use for certain immunocompromised individuals where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, results from a human RSV challenge study, where to go for answers about long COVID-19, negatively associated school-related outcomes in children and adolescents with long COVID, and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode Kennedy denies being sidelined by the White House (Politico) Kennedy continued to back away from his criticismof the measles vaccine (NY Times) Rotavirus surges after ACIP removes recommendation for vaccine(Discovermagazine) 'Staggering' number of people believe unproven claims about vaccines, raw milk and more (Nature) Health is confronting division, confusion, and competing influences (Edelman) Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan) Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) Big outbreak, bright lights…Measles Dashboard(South Carolina Department of Public Health) Utah measles outbreak response (Utah Department of Health and Human Services) UtahMeasles Dashboard (Utah Department of Health and Human Services) Tracking Measles Cases in the U.S. (Johns Hopkins) Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg) Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada) Measles (WHO) Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health) Measles (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC) Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC) Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM) Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts (ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America) Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine) Dangersof measles infection (NY Times) Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) US respiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Flu vaccine recommendations: Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee March 12, 2026 Meeting Announcement (FDA) WHO updates all 3 viral strains to be included in fall flu shots(CIDRAP) FDA vaccine advisers recommend adding subclade K to fall shots (CIDRAP) Weekly surveillance report: cliff notes (CDC FluView) OPTION 2: XOFLUZA $50 Cash Pay Option(xofluza) Prevalenceof influenza and other respiratory viral infections in deceased persons: a population-based observational study over four influenza seasons (Clinical Microbiology and Infection) RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) Respiratory Diseases (Yale School of Public Health) USrespiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection) Vaccines for Adults (CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)) Economic Analysis of Protein Subunit and mRNA RSV Vaccination in Adults aged 50-59 Years (CDC: ACIP) Respiratory Diseases (Yale School of Public Health) Maternal RSV vaccination and reduced risk of hospitalisation for babies in England, 2024/25 (ESCMID) Viral dynamics of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus during experimental human challenge: insights for transmission and protection(JID) Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) COVID-19 deaths (CDC) Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses) COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC) SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain) Clinical and economic benefits of seasonal COVID-19 vaccination in Germany: results from the ROUTINE-COV19 Study, September 2022 to March 2024 (Eurosurveillance) Effectiveness and safety of molnupiravir among patients with mild to moderate COVID-19: a prospective, observational, cohort study (Scientific Reports) Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda) EUAfor the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD) Infusion center (Prime Fusions) CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC) NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH) Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool) Help your eligible patients access PAXLOVID with the PAXCESS Patient Support Program (Pfizer Pro) Understanding CoverageOptions (PAXCESS) Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society) What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC) Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC) Anticoagulationguidelines (hematology.org) Daniel Griffin's evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID) Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center) The answers: Long COVID Divergent inflammatory and neurology-related protein levels in long COVID following primary and breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections (Communications Medicine) School Difficulties and Long COVID in Children and Adolescents (Academic Pediatrics) Reaching out to US house representative Letters read on TWiV 1316 Dr. Griffin's COVID treatment summary (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

Accurate AST results are the backbone of diagnostic stewardship, yet routine quality control (QC) might be missing subtle shifts that skew your hospital's annual antibiogram. By examining a real-world "silent failure" in daptomycin testing, we explore how lab-driven data is essential to the AMR crisis response and why the human eye—and traditional QC bugs—aren't always enough to catch technical drifts. This session breaks down the importance of LIS rules, alert fatigue, and the future of automated susceptibility testing. Guests: Laurel J. Glaser, M.D., Ph.D. Rebekah Dumm, Ph.D. D(ABMM) Links:  Leveraging patient data to detect systematic shifts in daptomycin susceptibility testing associated with reduced prescribing This episode of Editors in Conversation is brought to you by the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and hosted by JCM Editor in Chief, Romney Humphries, Ph.D., D(ABMM) and Elitza (Elli) Theel, Ph.D., D(ABMM).  Visit journals.asm.org/journal/jcm to read articles and/or submit a manuscript. Become an ASM member to receive up to 50% off publishing fees when you publish in JCM or any of the ASM journals. Sign up at asm.org/joinasm.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to reflect on the essential role of laboratory medicine during National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week. Dr. Pritt also welcomes Julia Lehman, M.D., a dermatologist and dermatopathologist at Mayo Clinic, to discuss innovative diagnostic tests for autoimmune diseases affecting the skin.Laboratory medicine's expanding role (00:15): Learn how laboratory medicine touches nearly every aspect of healthcare — and why its importance will continue to grow with the integration of AI.An inspiring patient story (05:22): Hear how a young patient with a rare disease is able to pursue her passion for dance thanks to advances in laboratory medicine.Advances in testing for autoimmune blistering diseases (07:29): Discover how novel diagnostic tests are helping clinicians better tailor treatment for patients with complex skin conditions.Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.ResourcesImmunodermatology: Unmatched testing expertiseA family's journey with an ultra-rare disease: Isabel the incredible

Communicable is launching a new series on everything related to pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD). Kicking off this series are hosts Thomas Tängdén, Erin McCreary and Angela Huttner, and invited guests Amy Legg and Rekha Pai Mangalore. They walk us through key parameters and terms of PK/PD, such as volume of distribution, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), epidemiological cut-off value (ECOFF), and PK/PD indices, laying the foundation to better comprehend clinical applications such as setting a clinical breakpoint and how it guides therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM). This first episode encompasses a broad scope across PK/PD theory, preparing the listener for subsequent episodes that will explore these topics with greater depth and make you love PK/PD. This episode was peer-reviewed by Ummu Afeera Zainulabid of the International Islamic University, Kuantan, Malaysia.   Terms and definitions ADME, a drug's journey through the body: absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretionVolume of distribution, a parameter describing the theoretical volume that would be necessary to contain the total amount of an administered drug at the same concentration that it is observed in the blood plasmaClearance, the volume of blood cleared of drug per unit timeHalf-life, the time required for the concentration of a drug to decrease to half of its initial amount in the bodyLoading dose, a larger initial dose designed to rapidly bring drug levels into the therapeutic rangeSteady state, an equilibrial condition in which the rate of input of a drug is equal to the rate of its outputMIC, minimum inhibitory concentrationECOFF, epidemiological cut-off value: the highest MIC value of isolates that are not known to have resistance and are therefore considered representative of wild-type bacterial isolatesClinical breakpoint setting, takes into account drug dosing, PK/PD, site of infection, clinical data; what we think is the breakpoint for the lab to call a bacterial organism susceptible to a drugPK/PD index, a parameter that describes the observed antimicrobial activity of an antimicrobial; there are three different indices: T>MIC (bacterial killing depends on the drug concentration's remaining higher than the MIC over time)Cmax/MIC (bacterial killing depends on the drug's peak concentration)AUC/MIC (bacterial killing depends on the area under the curve over the MIC)TDM, therapeutic drug monitoringFurther readingMouton JW, et al. MIC-based dose adjustment: facts and fables. J Antimicrob Chemother 2018. doi:10.1093/jac/dkx427Märtson A, et al. The pharmacokinetics of antibiotics in patients with obesity: a systematic review and consensus guidelines for dose adjustments. Lancet Infect Dis 2025. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00155-0Eagle H and Musselman AD. The rate of bactericidal action of penicillin in vitro as a function of its concentration, and its paradoxically reduced activity at high concentrations against certain organisms. J Exp Med 1948. doi: 10.1084/jem.88.1.99

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss recent news and updates. Later, Dr. Pritt welcomes Chris Garcia, M.D., Mayo Clinic Laboratories' chief digital innovation officer, to explore digital advances in clinical diagnostics.AI systems for healthcare guidance (00:36): Learn how patients and consumers are using AI tools to better understand their health information.Diagnostic's digital innovation journey (07:43): Explore the evolution of digital advances, their impact on care today, and what lies ahead.Guidance for selecting new tools (20:51): Gain practical guidance on selecting new digital tools in the laboratory.Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.ResourcesFrom Intake to Interpretation: How AI Assists Lab Teams TodayMaking the Promise of AI a Reality in Laboratory Medicine and Pathology

Most of us spend a third of our lives sleeping in bed and most of us are not washing our sheets near enough! That's according to Dr Primrose Freestone, associate professor in Clinical Microbiology at University of Leicester.

Most of us spend a third of our lives sleeping in bed and most of us are not washing our sheets near enough! That's according to Dr Primrose Freestone, associate professor in Clinical Microbiology at University of Leicester.

This is the first episode of the 'Quarterly catchup' series, in which CMI Communications editors discuss important and useful articles that have come out in the last 3 months to understand their results and potential clinical impact. In this inaugural episode of 'Quarterly catchup', Emily McDonald (Canada), Thomas Tängdén (Sweden) and Navaneeth Narayanan (USA) convene to discuss clinical microbiology and infectious diseases studies published in the first quarter of 2026 [1-6]. From Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes reducing dengue infection to exploration of antibiotic combination therapies against multidrug-resistant organisms, our hosts summarize six articles they found the most interesting, and discuss whether they can and should change clinical practice.   This episode was peer reviewed by Connor Prosty of McGill University, Montréal, Canada.  ReferencesLim JT, et al. Dengue suppression by Male Wolbachia-Infected mosquitoes. NEJM 2026. doi: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2503304 Escrihuela-Vida F, et al. Adjunctive Fosfomycin for the Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia: A Pooled Post Hoc Analysis of Individual Participant Data From 2 Randomized Trial. Clin Infect Dis 2026. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaf387 Baldanzi G, et al. Antibiotic use and gut microbiome composition links from individual-level prescription data of 14,979 individuals. Nat Med 2026. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-026-04284-y.Quentin Vallé, et al. Evaluating the antibacterial activity of ceftazidime/avibactam and aztreonam combinations against multidrug-resistant Stenotrophomonas maltophilia complex isolates in a hollow fibre infection model.  Clin Microbiol Infect 2026. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2026.02.010 Rana AI, et al. Cabotegravir plus Rilpivirine for Persons with HIV and Adherence Challenges. NEJM 2026. doi: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2508228 Donovan J, et al. Genotype-stratified adjunctive dexamethasone for tuberculous meningitis in HIV-negative adults: a randomized controlled phase 3 trial. Nat Med 2026. doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-025-04138-z Further readingThwaite GE, et al. Dexamethasone for the Treatment of Tuberculous Meningitis in Adolescents and Adults. NEJM 2004. doi: https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa040573 Behrmann LV. “The specimen is never wrong”: the pathologist behind Wolbachia. CMI Communications, 2026. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmicom.2026.105185                

Finbarr Murray from County Meath made headlines after tasting a jar of homemade jam from 1976 he discovered while clearing a family home near Navan. Not only did he make the discovery, he tasted it too, and said it was still “perfect”!He joins Fionnuala Jones, as well as Dr. Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester to discuss.

Dr Primrose Freestone, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester

Moon Nahm, M.D., professor emeritus at UAB Department of Medicine and Director of the World Health Organization's Pneumococcal Serology Reference Laboratory at UAB, discusses his career in pneumococcal immunology. From uncovering the WU2 reference strain and other hidden serotypes to pioneering Multiplexed Opsono-Phagocytosis Assay (MOPA) to measure the functional activity of anti-pneumococcal antibodies, Nahm's contributions have facilitated development of advanced vaccines with broader protection and accessibility. Links for This Episode UAB Spotlight on Moon Nahm. Discovery and Characterization of Pneumococcal Serogroup 36 Capsule Subtypes, Serotypes 36A and 36B. Journal of Clinical Microbiology paper, March 27, 2003. A New Pneumococcal Capsule Type, 10D, is the 100th Serotype and Has a Large cpsFragment from an Oral Streptococcus. mBio, May 19, 2020. 50 years—and change. WashU Magazine. MTM Listener Survey

Is the future of cervical cancer screening non-invasive? Sharmila Manjeshwar, Ph.D. and Jeffrey Klausner M.D. MPH, discuss a breakthrough in HPV diagnostics: urine-based testing. While vaccination and clinical screening have reduced cervical cancer rates, participation has stalled due to barriers like healthcare access and the invasive nature of traditional clinician-collected samples. This conversation explores how novel high-volume urine concentration technology is changing the landscape, making screening more accessible, private, and efficient. Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/am7NvL1Y0g4 Guests: Sharmila Manjeshwar, Ph.D. Jeffrey Klausner M.D. MPH Links:  Performance of a novel, urine-based test for the detection of cervical human papillomavirus infection This episode of Editors in Conversation is brought to you by the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and hosted by JCM Editor in Chief, Romney Humphries, Ph.D., D(ABMM) and Elitza (Elli) Theel, Ph.D., D(ABMM).  Visit journals.asm.org/journal/jcm to read articles and/or submit a manuscript. Become an ASM member to receive up to 50% off publishing fees when you publish in JCM or any of the ASM journals. Sign up at asm.org/joinasm.

In this episode of Communicable, hosts Angela Huttner and Marc Bonten invite two members of the ESCMID Emerging Infections Subcommittee, Martin Grobusch (Amsterdam, Netherlands) and Pikka Jokelainen (Copenhagen, Denmark), to discuss infectious disease outbreaks. Sparked by the Subcommittee's beloved 'Epi Alert', which identifies and tracks outbreaks around the world, the episode covers common missteps and underestimated challenges in handling new outbreaks, the effects of climate change, and what 'One Health' really means. This episode was peer reviewed by Ummu Afeera Zainulabid of the International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuantan, Malaysia.Further readingEpi Alert. https://www.escmid.org/science-research/emerging-infections-subcommittee/eis-activities/Pellejero-Sagastizábal G, et al. Delayed correct diagnoses in emerging disease outbreaks: historical patterns and lessons for contemporary responses. CMI 2025. https://www.clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.org/article/S1198-743X(25)00169-7/fulltext One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP), et al. One Health: A new definition for a sustainable and healthy future. PLoS Pathogens 2022. https://journals.plos.org/plospathogens/article?id=10.1371/journal.ppat.1010537 Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute News. https://www.swisstph.ch/en/news

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to share industry updates and Mayo Clinic's test development success in 2025. Later, Dr. Pritt welcomes Janelle Santos, M.D., a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic, to discuss how she uses a preeclampsia test to care for her patients.Public policy insights for 2026 (00:34): Dr. Bill Morice shares insights on reimbursement and AI-related policy developments following an association meeting in Washington, D.C. An unprecedented year for test development (04:45): Discover how Mayo Clinic's record year for test development delivers value to Mayo Clinic's patients and Mayo Clinic Laboratories' clients.Novel preeclampsia testing (08:13): Learn how new clinical testing helps physicians improve outcomes for women at risk for preeclampsia and their babies.Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.Resources4 steps to establishing a new approach to innovation Innovation beyond the bench: Translating science into better diagnostics and outcomesPreeclampsia: Empowering confident decision-making through preeclampsia risk assessmentAssay stratifies pregnant women's preeclampsia risk: Joshua Bornhorst, Ph.D. Preeclampsia sFlt-1/PIGF Ratio, Serum (Mayo ID: PERA)

Yesterday was International Women's Day. In light of that, Communicable prepared a special episode in which hosts Erin McCreary and Annie Joseph are joined by Esmita Charani (South Africa) and Annette Westgeest (Netherlands) for a discussion on gender- and sex-dependent patient-care disparities in the infectious diseases space. Together they review recent research findings that identified gender and sex as important determinants influencing patient outcomes and even decision making by prescribers. They also explore how societal and cultural norms may introduce further nuance and complexities. The panel remains optimistic in reaching equal healthcare for all, reflecting also on progressive steps such as increasing recognition by international organisations like the WHO, which published guidance on gender inequalities in national plans on AMR in 2024.This episode was peer reviewed by Casandra Bulescu at the Dr. Victor Babes Clinical Hospital of Infectious and Tropical Diseases in Bucharest, Romania.ReferencesCharani E, et al. Wellcome Open Research, 2024. Charani E, et al. Lancet Global Health, 2023.WHO guidance on gender inequalities in national action plans on AMR, 2024.Westgeest AC's presentation at ESCMID Global 2023.Dellière S, et al. Clin Microbiol Infect, 2026.Westgeest AC, et al. Clin Microbiol Infect, 2023.Madsen TE, et al. DISPARITY-II study, 2014.Criado Perez, C. Invisible Women. Ausman SE, et al. CLASI study, 2023.Vaughn VM, et al. ICHE, 2022.Szymczak JE. Clin Infect Dis, 2019.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to explore recent examples of diagnostic innovations that are improving patient care. Dr. Pritt also welcomes Matthew Schultz, Ph.D., a clinical biomedical geneticist at Mayo Clinic, to discuss how a novel test is delivering answers for patients with a recently identified peripheral neuropathy. Transplant testing innovations (00:57): Discover how advances in clinical diagnostics are improving transplant outcomes at Mayo Clinic. Advances reshaping rheumatoid arthritis diagnostics (06:06): Learn how early-stage research and emerging tools are reshaping care for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. New test for peripheral neuropathy (08:18): A novel test created to support care for patients with a recently identified condition now supporting research to advance care. Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.ResourcesRewriting the future of rheumatoid arthritis: How early detection is transforming preventionCultivating a comprehensive test menu for organ transplant patientsScreening test for sorbitol dehydrogenase deficiency-related neuropathy (SORD)Innovative SORD test provides clarity for two young patients: Justin Fugelsang and Zach Pedowitz

In this third collaboration between SIDP's Breakpoints and ESCMID's Communicable podcasts, hosts Erin McCreary and Angela Huttner invite two veteran authors of guidelines and guidances, Pranita Tamma (Philadelphia, USA) and Benedikt Huttner (WHO, Geneva, Switzerland) [1-3]. Together, they deconstruct the complex landscape of developing and implementing guidelines into digestible components: they discuss why different organizations develop guidelines and what need they hope to fulfil, the framework including the GRADE methodology under which guidelines are written, and major barriers in the uptake of guidelines. The conversation also details the distinction between guideline and guidance as well as the art and science behind formulating recommendations or suggestions, with a few anecdotal cases sprinkled in from the panel. This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and Lacy Worden. It was peer reviewed for Breakpoints by Lacy Worden and for Communicable by Ljiljana Lukić of University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb, Croatia.  References WHO handbook for guideline development, 2nd Edition The WHO AWaRe (Access, Watch, Reserve) antibiotic book IDSA 2024 Guidance on the Treatment of Antimicrobial Resistant Gram-Negative InfectionsFurther readingESCMID AMR Guidelines, https://clinicalmicrobiologyandinfection.com/retrieve/pii/S1198743X21006790 GRADE working group, https://www.gradeworkinggroup.org/GRADE Book, https://book.gradepro.org/ IDSA's intraabdominal guidelines, https://www.idsociety.org/practice-guideline/intra-abdominal-infections/ ESCMID Manual for Clinical Practice Guidelines and Other Guidance Documents, https://www.escmid.org/guidelines-journals/guidelines/ International Consensus Guidelines for the Optimal Use of the Polymyxins https://accpjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/phar.2209 American Thoracic Society guidelines on community-acquired pneumonia, https://www.atsjournals.org/doi/abs/10.1164/rccm.202507-1692ST 

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss recent industry news and how collaborations are helping drive transformation in clinical diagnostics. Together, they explore:Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) delay (01:09): Dr. Morice shares what the latest delay of PAMA means for laboratories.FDA guidance on wearables (02:23): Learn about recent FDA guidance that allows more non‑invasive wearables to be classified as wellness devices. Collaboration as a driver of innovation (06:20): Discover why collaboration is critical to advancement in clinical diagnostics.Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.ResourcesGroundbreaking collaborationsMary Jo Williamson offers four steps to maximize collaboration benefitsDr. Bill Morice shares how a platform for collaboration transforms diagnostics“Answers From the Lab” podcast: “Forging Collaborations That Deliver Better Outcomes”

Mould in the home is more than just an eyesore, it can be a serious health risk, especially for young children, older adults, and people with breathing problems. In damp or poorly ventilated houses, mould can grow quickly and quietly, often before you even notice it. In this brief, we'll look at simple, practical steps you can take to reduce moisture in your home and prevent mould from taking hold.Joining Sean was Dr. Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology, University of Leicester

In this episode of Communicable, Navaneeth Narayanan and Josh Nosanchuk invite Virginie Lemiale and Elie Azoulay (Paris, France) as well as fellow editor Emily McDonald (Montreal, Canada)—this time as guest—to discuss adjunctive steroid therapy for pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) in HIV-negative individuals. In 2025, Lemiale and Azoulay published results from their double-blind, randomised controlled trial investigating steroid treatment for severe Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PIC trial) in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine [1]. At first glance, one might dismiss the study's clinical impact due the ‘negative' result of  the primary outcome, mortality at 28 days, which just missed a statistically significant difference between groups. There was a clinical difference, however, and all other outcomes, including 90-day mortality, were significantly different between groups. Understanding how pivotal these results were to clinical practice, McDonald and colleagues sought to contextualise the results of the PIC trial through a Bayesian analysis in a follow-up publication [2]. While the discussion provides useful clinical commentary, it also helps both to demystify Bayesian analysis and to call attention to what might be lost with strict or overly concrete interpretations of traditional frequentist analyses. This episode was peer reviewed by Arjana Zerja from the Mother Theresa University Hospital Center, Tirana, Albania.ReferencesLemiale V, et al. Adjunctive corticosteroids in non-AIDS patients with severe Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PIC): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Respir Med. 2025;13(9):800-808. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(25)00125-0.Lee TC, Albuquerque AM, McDonald EG. Contextualizing the use of corticosteroids in severe Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia through a Bayesian lens. CMI Commun. 2025;2(4):105141. doi:10.1016/j.cmicom.2025.105141.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) reform and celebrate an exciting milestone for Dr. Pritt's “Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites” blog. Later in the episode, Dr. Pritt welcomes Angie Reese-Davis, Mayo Clinic Laboratories' director of operations, to explore how proactive monitoring, shipping workflows, teamwork, and ongoing process improvements all contribute to a resilient lab logistics system. PAMA reform update (00:34): Get the latest on PAMA delays and the new Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services (RESULTS) Act.Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasites (04:24): Go behind the scenes of the 800 parasite cases Dr. Pritt has featured on her long-running blog.Logistics at Mayo Clinic Laboratories (08:09): Learn how the team manages and tracks the 40,000 samples that arrive each day.Process improvement and resiliency (12:49): Discover how the logistics team continues to innovate and evolve to support clients more efficiently and effectively.Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.

In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by faculty and collaborators from the University of Florida to discuss their new Clinical Laboratory Microbiologist (CLM) program — the first NAACLS-approved, microbiology-only certification pathway in the United States. They share how the program was created to address the growing shortage of clinical microbiologists and provide a direct pathway for microbiology graduates and working professionals to enter the clinical laboratory. The conversation covers: Gaps in the current workforce and training pipeline The hybrid model combining online coursework, hands-on bootcamp labs, and local clinical internships Real-world training with clinical lab technology such as MALDI-TOF, PCR, and blood culture systems  Preparation for the ASCP categorical microbiology certification exam The strong nationwide interest in the program The episode closes with a fun discussion on everyone's favorite microbes. Whether you're a student, lab professional, or educator, this episode offers insight into the future of clinical microbiology training.   Additional resources: ASCP Categorical Certification (Microbiology) https://www.ascp.org/boc/explore-credentials/view-all-credentials/M University of Florida Clinical Laboratory Microbiologist (CLM) Program https://microbiologyonline.ifas.ufl.edu/programs/clinical-laboratory-microbiologist/ GIDEON (Global Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Network) https://www.gideononline.com/ Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro: Website: letstalkmicro.com Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com Interested in being a guest on Let's Talk Micro? Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/V2fT3asjfyusmqyi8 Support the podcast: Venmo Buy me a Ko-fi  

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing humanity – and is not a future problem. Changes to the Earth's climate driven by emission of greenhouse gases have led to glaciers shrinking, plant and animal geographic ranges shifting and historical droughts, wildfires and rainfall. What does all of this have to do with the clinical laboratory?  Subscribe to Editors in Conversation on Apple Podcasts, Android, Spotify, or Email and never miss an episode. Guests: Dr. Joesph Wiencek, Director of Clinical Chemistry and Associate Professor at VUMC Andrea Prinzi, Ph.D., MPH, SM(ASCP), bioMérieux Links:  The foundation for the microbiology laboratory's essential role in diagnostic stewardship: an ASM Laboratory Practices Subcommittee report  Approaches to developing and implementing a molecular diagnostics stewardship program for infectious diseases: an ASM Laboratory Practices Subcommittee report  Guiding antimicrobial stewardship through thoughtful antimicrobial susceptibility testing and reporting strategies: an updated approach in 2023  This episode of Editors in Conversation is brought to you by the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and hosted by JCM Editor in Chief, Romney Humphries, Ph.D., D(ABMM).  Visit journals.asm.org/journal/jcm to read articles and/or submit a manuscript. Become an ASM member to receive up to 50% off publishing fees when you publish in JCM or any of the ASM journals. Sign up at asm.org/joinasm.

In this episode of Communicable, Josh Davis (Newcastle, Australia) and Emily McDonald (Montreal, Canada), plus invited guest, Steven Tong (Melbourne, Australia)—all practicing physicians and clinical trialists—assemble to discuss some of their ‘top infectious diseases papers published in 2025'. Bassam Ghanem (Jeddah Lol, Saudi Arabia), whom one might know better as Antibiotic Steward on social media, was also invited to share his favourite publications of 2025.Six papers that were most consistently picked by the panel are presented, explaining why they were picked and how they have shifted paradigms or changed their practice. This episode complements the previous episode, which presented ‘top clinical microbiology papers in 2025', and was peer reviewed by Akshatha Ravindra of Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India.   ResourcesCLARITY initiative websitePapers presented (in order of presentation) Turner NA, et al. Dalbavancin for Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia. JAMAMeya DB, et al. Trial of High-Dose Oral Rifampin in Adults with Tuberculous Meningitis. NEJMVodstrcil LA, et al. Male-Partner Treatment to Prevent Recurrence of Bacterial Vaginosis. NEJMKreimer A, et al. Noninferiority of One HPV Vaccine Dose to Two Doses. NEJMGuglielmetti L, et al. Oral Regimens for Rifampin-Resistant, Fluoroquinolone-Susceptible Tuberculosis. NEJMRoss JDC et al, Oral gepotidacin for the treatment of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhoea (EAGLE-1). Lancet  ‘One liners' (in order of presentation)Burdet C et al. Cloxacillin versus cefazolin for meticillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (CloCeBa). LancetLemiale V et al, Adjunctive corticosteroids in non-AIDS patients with severe Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PIC). Lancet Respir MedLuetkemeyer AF et al, Doxycycline to prevent bacterial sexually transmitted infections in the USA. Lancet Inf DisEyting M, et al. A natural experiment on the effect of herpes zoster vaccination on dementia. NatureXie M, et al. The effect of shingles vaccination at different stages of the dementia disease course. CellPomirchy M, et al. Herpes Zoster Vaccination and Dementia Occurrence. JAMADurbin AP et al, Daily Mosnodenvir as Dengue Prophylaxis in a Controlled Human Infection Model. NEJMHook EW et al, One Dose versus Three Doses of Benzathine Penicillin G in Early Syphilis. NEJMOpdam MAA et al, Continuation versus temporary interruption of immunomodulatory agents during infections in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases. Clin Infect DisArundel C et al, Negative pressure wound therapy versus usual care in patients with surgical wound healing by secondary intention in the UK (SWHSI-2). LancetHonourable mentionsChaccour C, et al. Ivermectin to Control Malaria. NEJMLucinde RK, et al. A Pragmatic Trial of Glucocorticoids for Community-Acquired Pneumonia. NEJMMorel J, et al. Effect of a 1-month methotrexate delay on pneumococcal vaccine immunogenicity and disease control in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (VACIMRA). Lancet RheumatolHaukoos J, et al. Hepatitis C Screening in Emergency Departments. JAMAMajor Extremity Trauma Research Consortium (METRC). Oral vs Intravenous Antibiotics for Fracture-Related Infections: The POvIV Randomized Clinical Trial, JAMA SurgAnderson CS, et al. Influenza vaccination to improve outcomes for patients with acute heart failure (PANDA II). LancetSt Peter SD, et al. Appendicectomy versus antibiotics for acute uncomplicated appendicitis in children. LancetPan CQ, et al. Tenofovir and Hepatitis B Virus Transmission During Pregnancy. JAMAGohil SK, et al. Improving Empiric Antibiotic Selection for Patients Hospitalized With Abdominal Infection. JAMA SurgRelated podcast episodesCommunicable E44: Top clinical microbiology papers in 2025 https://share.transistor.fm/s/6e5c26aeCommunicable E29: Bacterial vaginosis & male partners, https://share.transistor.fm/s/3de4f5c3 Communicable E28: Late-breaker trials at ESCMID Global: Should they change your practice? - part 2, https://share.transistor.fm/s/4f044e8c Communicable E20: Tuberculosis today https://share.transistor.fm/s/9858900e 

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss 2026 trends. Together, they explore:  JP Morgan Healthcare Conference (00:34): Dr. Morice shares his top observations and takeaways after attending this year's conference. Artificial intelligence (06:02): Anticipated benefits and risks of AI developments predicted in 2026.Reimbursement and regulation (13:43): Why reimbursement and regulation continue to be areas of significant interest in clinical diagnostics. Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.ResourcesTransforming laboratory medicine through AI: From promise to practice"Answers From the Lab" podcast: Breakthroughs and Trends That Defined Lab Medicine in 2025"Answers From the Lab" podcast: PAMA Update and Accelerating Research and Development With BioPharma Diagnostics

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 shares insights from years of clinical experience, including how mNGS can improve diagnostic yield, shorten time to diagnosis, guide targeted therapy, and reduce unnecessary testing and hospital stays. We also touch on challenges like cost, result interpretation, diagnostic stewardship, and where metagenomics is headed next—including its role in public health and emerging infections.    Links & Resources Clinical metagenomics for meningitis and encephalitis (Nature Medicine) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-024-03275-1    Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro: Website: letstalkmicro.com Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com Interested in being a guest on Let's Talk Micro? Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/V2fT3asjfyusmqyi8 Support the podcast: Venmo Buy me a Ko-fi  

How often do you change your socks? According to an expert, it is vital to do it every day in order to avoid ‘Cheesy Foot', ‘Onion Foot', ‘Goat Foot' and other unpleasantries.Joining Seán to discuss is Dr. Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester…

In the first Communicable episode of 2026, Annie Joseph and Josh Nosanchuk invite Robin Patel (Rochester, USA) and Fidelma Fitzpatrick (Dublin, Ireland) to discuss some of their favourite clinical microbiology papers published in 2025. These six papers highlight everything from technological advances of genomics and molecular diagnostic testing to the importance of patient and public involvement in research as well as effective communication [1-6]. The panel also discusses whether or not any of these papers have changed their practice.This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Sinéad Kilgarriff of the National Virus Reference Laboratory University College, Dublin in Ireland. Robin's papersOyeniran SJ, et al. J Clin Microbiol 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00986-25 Xie O, et al. Lancet Microbe 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.lanmic.2025.101182Lopopolo M et al., Science 2025. DOI: 10.1126/science.adu7144Fidelma's papersTurner NA, et al. JAMA 2025. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2025.12543  Paterson DL, et al. Lancet Infectious Diseases 2025. DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00469-4Langford BJ, et al. Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology 2025. DOI: 10.1017/ash.2025.10210Related podcast episodesCommunicable episode 1: Late breaker trials at ESCMID Global 2024, https://share.transistor.fm/s/9c598f68ReferencesOyeniran SJ, et al. J Clin Microbiol 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00986-25 Xie O, et al. Lancet Microbe 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.lanmic.2025.101182Turner NA, et al. JAMA 2025. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2025.12543  Paterson DL, et al. Lancet Infectious Diseases 2025. DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(25)00469-4Lopopolo M et al., Science 2025. DOI: 10.1126/science.adu7144Langford BJ, et al. Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology 2025. DOI: 10.1017/ash.2025.10210Further readingMohammed HT, et al. IJSEM 2025. DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.006986  Skally M, et al. BMJ Open 2025. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-103431Ong SWX and Tverring J. CMI Communications 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmicom.2025.105154Tverring J and Ong SWX. CMI Communications 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmicom.2025.105169 

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss direct-to-consumer testing. Then, Dr. Pritt welcomes Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., a microbiologist and virologist and chief scientific officer of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, for a conversation about accelerating innovation without compromising quality or safety. Direct-to-consumer testing (00:38): Explore the rise of direct-to-consumer testing and the challenges that accompany it. Evolving expectations for innovation (05:38): Understand why patient and clinician expectations are rising and how that is reshaping diagnostics.Safeguarding advances (07:23): Learn the foundational principles that protect quality and safety amid rapid innovation.Strategies for accelerating innovation (10:33): Discover practical ways to responsibly deliver novel solutions more quickly.Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.ResourcesFive ways to move faster without compromising trust in diagnostics"Answers From the Lab” podcast: Breakthroughs and Trends That Defined Lab Medicine in 2025360Dx: 2025 highlights and takeaways for the clinical lab industry

Calling out "Happy Christmas to all and to all a good-night,  Dr. Griffin and Vincent Racaniello discuss high path influenza in dairy herds in Wisconsin and Marburg virus in Ethiopia before Dr. Griffin then deep dives into recent statistics on the measles epidemic, RSV, influenza and SARS-CoV-2 infections, the Wasterwater Scan dashboard, Johns Hopkins measles tracker, the slightly higher association of COVID-19 infection with death than following influenza infection, benefit of passive infant immunization with niresevimab, association of COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity protection against severe disease in vulnerable populations, where to find PEMGARDA, how to access and pay for Paxlovid, long COVID treatment center, effect of remdesivir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir on COVID-19 associated mortality, where to go for answers to your long COVID questions, and contacting your federal government representative to stop the assault on science and biomedical research. Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, RSS, email Become a patron of TWiV! Links for this episode USDA Confirms Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in a Dairy Herd in Wisconsin (USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) Update: Genetic Sequencing Results for Wisconsin Dairy Herd Detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza(USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) Marburg Outbreak in Ethiopia: Current Situation (CDC: Marburg Virus Disease) Wastewater for measles (WasterWater Scan) Measles cases and outbreaks (CDC Rubeola) Tracking Measles Cases in the U.S. (Johns Hopkins) Measles vaccine recommendations from NYP (jpg) Weekly measles and rubella monitoring (Government of Canada) Measles (WHO) Get the FACTS about measles (NY State Department of Health) Measles(CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Measles vaccine (CDC Measles (Rubeola)) Presumptive evidence of measles immunity (CDC) Contraindications and precautions to measles vaccination (CDC) Adverse events associated with childhood vaccines: evidence bearing on causality (NLM) Measles Vaccination: Know the Facts (ISDA: Infectious Diseases Society of America) Deaths following vaccination: what does the evidence show (Vaccine) Influenza: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) USrespiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Respiratory virus activity levels (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) Weekly surveillance report: clift notes (CDC FluView) In call with clinicians, CDC recommends flu vaccines widely(CIDRAP) Influenza Vaccine Composition for the 2025-2026 U.S. Influenza Season (FDA) Increased 30-day Mortality Risk in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Compared to Seasonal Influenza (International Journal of Infectious Diseases) RSV: Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) Respiratory Diseases (Yale School of Public Health) USrespiratory virus activity (CDC Respiratory Illnesses) RSV-Network (CDC Respiratory Syncytial virus Infection) Vaccines for Adults (CDC: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV)) Economic Analysis of Protein Subunit and mRNA RSV Vaccination in Adults aged 50-59 Years (CDC: ACIP) Nirsevimab vs RSVpreF Vaccine for Respiratory Syncytial Virus–Related Hospitalization in Newborns (JAMA) RSV Immunization Frequently Asked Questions(American Academy of Pediatrics) Waste water scan for 11 pathogens (WastewaterSCan) COVID-19 deaths (CDC) Respiratory Illnesses Data Channel (CDC: Respiratory Illnesses) COVID-19 national and regional trends (CDC) COVID-19 variant tracker (CDC) SARS-CoV-2 genomes galore (Nextstrain) Antigenic and Virological Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 Variant BA.3.2, XFG, and NB.1.8.1 (bioRxiV) Association between COVID-19 vaccine immunogenicity and protection against infection and severe disease in clinically vulnerable patient populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies (Clinical Microbiology and Infection) Where to get pemgarda (Pemgarda) EUAfor the pre-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 (INVIYD) Infusion center (Prime Fusions) CDC Quarantine guidelines (CDC) NIH COVID-19 treatment guidelines (NIH) Drug interaction checker (University of Liverpool) Help your eligible patients access PAXLOVID with the PAXCESS Patient Support Program (Pfizer Pro) Understanding Coverage Options (PAXCESS) Infectious Disease Society guidelines for treatment and management (ID Society) The effect of remdesivir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir on mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the Omicron era: an emulated target trial (Clinical Microbiology and Infection) Molnupiravir safety and efficacy (JMV) Convalescent plasma recommendation for immunocompromised (ID Society) What to do when sick with a respiratory virus (CDC) Managing healthcare staffing shortages (CDC) Anticoagulationguidelines (hematology.org) Daniel Griffin's evidence based medical practices for long COVID (OFID) Long COVID hotline (Columbia : Columbia University Irving Medical Center) The answers: Long COVID Long-COVID research just got a big funding boost: will it find new treatments? (Nature) Reaching out to US house representative Letters read on TWiV 1282 Dr. Griffin's COVID treatment summary (pdf) Timestamps by Jolene Ramsey. Thanks! Intro music is by Ronald Jenkees Send your questions for Dr. Griffin to daniel@microbe.tv Content in this podcast should not be construed as medical advice.

I almost can't believe that we are wrapping up yet another year on the podcast this month, which has been going strong for 6 years now! And it has been another exciting year in the world of Clin Micro as well with improvements and new assays available for some of our bread and butter tests, but the year also brought about significant developments in the application of AI and digital imaging, use of NGS methods, and probably some cool AST stuff in there too among other things, with many of these advancements published in JCM. And so, as has become customary for the last 6 years, for this episode, we will be sharing some of our favorite papers or more intriguing manuscripts published in the Journal this year. And I have to say, this is probably one of the hardest episodes to prep for because picking just on paper to talk about is an incredible difficult task! But, we are up to the challenge and we'll share those with you over the next half hour or so, all the while wearing ridiculous holiday sweaters and/or holiday headgear, as is now tradition. So, if you are not watching, you may want to switch and find a video option for your viewing pleasure.  Watch this episode: https://youtu.be/taqcjqeQQBE Paper Links: Interlaboratory assays from the fungal PCR Initiative and the Modimucor Study Group to improve qPCR detection of Mucorales DNA in serum: one more step toward standardization | Journal of Clinical Microbiology https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jcm.01525-24 Detection of protozoan and helminth parasites in concentrated wet mounts of stool using a deep convolutional neural network | Journal of Clinical Microbiology https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jcm.01062-25 Prediction of antimicrobial susceptibility of pneumococci based on whole-genome sequencing data: a direct comparison of two genomic tools to conventional antimicrobial susceptibility testing | Journal of Clinical Microbiology https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jcm.01079-24      a. Bonus: Rapid detection of gram-negative antimicrobial resistance determinants directly from positive blood culture broths using a multiplex PCR system | Journal of Clinical Microbiology https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jcm.00384-25 A novel single-tier serologic test to diagnose all stages of Lyme disease | Journal of Clinical Microbiology https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jcm.00483-25 This episode of Editors in Conversation is brought to you by the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and hosted by JCM Editor in Chief, Romney Humphries, Ph.D., D(ABMM) and Elitza (Elli) Theel, Ph.D., D(ABMM).  Editors in conversation is supported by the American Society for Microbiology, which publishes JCM. Become an ASM member to receive up to 50% off publishing fees when you publish in JCM or any of the ASM journals.  Sign up at https://asm.org/joinasm. Visit https://journals.asm.org/journal/jcm to read articles and/or submit a manuscript. Get the audio only podcast at https://asm.org/eic.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, welcomes William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to explore recent news updates and key advancements shaping the industry in 2025.Staying healthy during the holidays (00:18): Discover how to protect yourself and others as a new influenza strain, holiday gatherings, and increased travel raise the risk of spreading viruses. 2025 breakthroughs and trends (04:31): Learn more about the technologies, regulations, and innovation influencing the future of clinical diagnostics. Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.Resources"Answers From the Lab” podcast: Innovations Set to Shape the Industry in 2025Dr. Morice shares trends and predictions for 2025Mayo Clinic Minute: How to prepare for the influenza seasonMayo Clinic Minute: Wash your hands for better healthVaccines and viruses: Protecting health across generations

During the COVID-19 pandemic with lockdown mandates and social distancing, doctors, researchers, and the public were able to find refuge and community online; for the infectious disease community, it was on the social media platform Twitter, and more specifically under the widely used hashtag, #IDTwitter. Under new ownership from 2022, however, Twitter's name and brand changed to what we now know as X, and “the heyday of #IDTwitter is long since gone”. In this special episode of Communicable, Angela Huttner and Marc Bonten invite doctors and science communicators, Neil Stone (London, UK), Ilan Schwartz (Durham, USA), and Tara Smith (Kent, USA) to debate whether we should stay on X or leave it for alternatives.This episode is a follow-up from Stone and Schwartz's commentary [1] and Smith's response letter [2] addressing the same topic published in CMI Communications. The views expressed by the panelists are their own and do not represent the positions of their affiliated institutions or ESCMID. This episode was not peer reviewed.ResourcesYou can follow all participants of this episode on Bluesky: @drneilstone.bsky.social, @germhuntermd.bsky.social, @aetiology.bsky.social, @marcbonten.bsky.social, @angelahuttner.bsky.social, and Stone on X: @DrNeilStone.ReferencesStone NRH and Schwartz IS. Joining the X-odus: Contrasting perspectives on whether infection specialists should leave X (formerly Twitter). CMI Comms 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmicom.2025.105140Smith TC. Twitter remains a haven of harassment. CMI Comms 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmicom.2025.105144Further readingBiever, C. Bluesky's science takeover: 70% of Nature poll respondents use platform. Nature News 2025. PEW Research Center. How Do Americans View Childhood Vaccines, Vaccine Research and Policy? https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2025/11/18/how-do-americans-view-childhood-vaccines-vaccine-research-and-policy/   NBC News. X's new location labels unmask users. Insiders say the idea was rejected for years. https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/elon-musk/x-user-location-feature-country-elon-musk-new-rcna245620

Published Dec. 4, 2025In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) reform and the first reported death from alpha-gal syndrome. Later, Dr. Pritt welcomes Chris Garcia, M.D., Mayo Clinic Laboratories' chief digital innovation officer and medical director of BioPharma Diagnostics, to explore how biopharma diagnostics advance research and development. PAMA reform update (00:33): Get the latest on where reform to PAMA stands following the federal government's reopening.Alpha-gal syndrome case (03:22): Learn about the first known death from alpha-gal syndrome and diagnostic testing for this tick-bite-triggered red meat allergy.Biopharma's role in research and development (07:52): Discover how biopharma diagnostics fuel innovation and how digital tools are expanding its future impact.  Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.ResourcesBioPharma Diagnostics: Connecting pharma and biotechTick-borne disease: An expanding geographic threat

The crux of HIV care and prevention is quick and accurate diagnosis. Listen in to learn from Aniruddha (Anu) Hazra, MD, and Dr. Nancy S. Miller about the advantages and potential pitfalls of different HIV testing algorithms to find out which one is best suited for your practice.Presenters:Aniruddha (Anu) Hazra, MDAssociate Professor, Section of Infectious Diseases and Global HealthMedical Director, UCM Sexual Wellness ClinicDirector of STI Services, Chicago Center of HIV EliminationDepartment of MedicineUniversity of ChicagoChicago, IllinoisNancy S. Miller, MDMedical Director, Clinical Microbiology and Molecular DiagnosticsClinical Professor, Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineBoston Medical Center and Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of MedicineBoston, MassachusettsLink to full program:https://bit.ly/4nS7rYEGet access to all of our new podcasts by subscribing to the CCO Infectious Disease Podcast on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Music, or Spotify. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss recent news about Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) reform. Then, Dr. Pritt welcomes Trish Simner, Ph.D., a clinical microbiologist at Mayo Clinic, for an in-depth conversation about metagenomics. PAMA reform update and new RESULTS Act (00:30): Hear about options under consideration for PAMA reform, including the Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services (RESULTS) Act.When cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) metagenomics benefit patient care (06:04): Explore how CSF metagenomics work and when it is appropriate to use this advanced diagnostic tool in clinical practice.Advancement and innovation in metagenomics (18:15): Discover how recent and upcoming innovation is expanding metagenomic testing capabilities. Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.ResourcesAnswers From the Lab podcast: Developments for LDT Regulation and Laboratory Reimbursement: Bill Morice, M.D., Ph.D.Metagenomics: Identifying elusive pathogenic microorganisms

Unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotics can drive antimicrobial resistance and cause adverse events, whereas inadequate antibiotic coverage is linked to increased mortality and length of stay for patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs). Listen now to learn from Jose Alexander, MD, D(ABMM), CIC, FCCM, SM/MB(ASCP), how to use rapid genotypic and phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing results to inform antibiotic selection for patients with gram-negative BSIs. Topics covered include:Typical patterns of intrinsic antibiotic susceptibility and resistance in EnterobacteralesMechanisms of resistance in gram-negative bacteriaGenotypic rapid diagnostic tests for BSIsResistance markers for earlier targeted therapyRapid phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility test platforms for blood culturesPresenter:Jose Alexander, MD, D(ABMM), CIC, FCCM, SM/MB(ASCP)Medical and Public Health MicrobiologistMedical and Technical Director of MicrobiologyAdventHealthOrlando, FloridaLink to full program and downloadable slides:https://bit.ly/4inoXCxGet access to all of our new podcasts by subscribing to the CCO Infectious Disease Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Rapid phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) significantly reduces time to actionable results and can improve antibiotic decision-making for patients with bloodstream infections. Listen in to learn from Michael P. Veve, PharmD, MPH, how to optimally integrate rapid phenotypic AST into clinical practice, including incorporation into your existing antimicrobial stewardship workflow. Topics covered include:Considerations for implementationDecision-making steps for implementationThe role of antimicrobial stewardship programs in AST workflowPresenter:Michael P. Veve, PharmD, MPHClinical Associate ProfessorDepartment of Pharmacy PracticeEugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesWayne State UniversityClinical Pharmacy Specialist, Infectious DiseaseHenry Ford HospitalDetroit, MichiganLink to full program and downloadable slides:https://bit.ly/4inoXCxGet access to all of our new podcasts by subscribing to the CCO Infectious Disease Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sepsis and bloodstream infections (BSIs) are common and cause millions of deaths each year, with a disproportionate burden in low-income and middle-income countries. Tune in to learn from Jasmine R. Marcelin, MD, FACP, FIDSA, how inadequate antibiotic coverage can be linked to increased mortality and length of stay and how unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotics can drive antimicrobial resistance. Topics covered include:The worldwide burden of sepsis and BSIsThe ongoing threat of antimicrobial resistanceUS and global health disparities in sepsis, BSI, and antimicrobial resistanceBarriers toward optimizing antibiotic use in BSIsPresenter:Jasmine R. Marcelin, MD, FACP, FIDSAAssociate Professor, Infectious DiseaseAssociate Medical Director, Antimicrobial Stewardship ProgramVice Chair for Belonging and Community Engagement, Department of Internal MedicineCo-Director, Digital Innovation & Social Media Strategy, Division of Infectious DiseasesUniversity of Nebraska Medical CenterOmaha, NebraskaLink to full program and downloadable slides:https://bit.ly/4inoXCxGet access to all of our new podcasts by subscribing to the CCO Infectious Disease Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, welcomes William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. Together, they discuss recent news about virus activity and explore the value of collaboration in shaping innovative diagnostic strategies.   Testing for viruses appearing closer to home (00:45): Gain insights on using available testing to manage measles and detect chikungunya, which was recently transmitted in the U.S. for the first time in years. Collaborating for more coordinated care and innovation (06:04): Explore how strategic partnerships in diagnostics foster innovation and enable a more integrated approach to clinical decision-making.Building successful collaborations (12:16): Discover practical insights into establishing and maintaining collaborations that deliver meaningful value to all involved. Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.ResourcesAnswers From the Lab Podcast: How the Evolving Role of Diagnostics and Platforms Impact Healthcare: Bill Morice, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Bill Morice shares how a platform for collaboration transforms diagnosticsMary Jo Williamson offers four steps to maximize collaboration benefits