Podcasts about clinical microbiology

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!How to prepare teens to become more financially independent adults. The financial pressures young adults face that are unlike any other generation…importance of resisting the temptation to bail them out for small financial mistakes. Guest: Charles Hoff - Financial Literacy Counselor at DFCU Financial.Awareness about congenial heart disease & the upcoming Boston Walk for 1 in 100 – named for the 1 in 100 children and adults impacted by congenital heart disease. Guest: Mary Beth Klein, MD Psychiatry.Vehicle theft prevention tips. Approximately one vehicle is still stolen every 37 seconds in the U.S. according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.Guest: Mark Schieldrop – AAA Senior Spokesperson.Bacteria that can cause rare "flesh-eating" disease infects swimmer at Cape Cod beachGuest: Dr. Zoe Weiss - Infectious Disease Physician and Director of Clinical Microbiology at Tufts Medical Center.

Published August 14, 2025 In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, discuss recent news about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in healthcare. Together, they explore:Applications of AI tools in clinical diagnostics to identify dementia, cardiovascular conditions, and parasites.Ethical considerations, including global disparities in access to AI tools and environmental impacts.ResourcesUse of artificial intelligence and digital slide scanning for detection of intestinal protozoa in trichrome-stained stool specimensMayo Clinic's AI tool identifies 9 dementia types, including Alzheimer's, with one scanAI computing power is splitting the world into haves and have-nots - The New York Times

Ethics in the field of infectious disease can be a delicate interplay between treating the individual patient and protecting the collective health of a society. Sometimes these two mandates go hand in hand; at other times they can appear to be in conflict. In this episode of Communicable, Dr. Angela Huttner invites Drs. Zeb Jamrozik (Melbourne, Australia) and Beenish Syed (Karachi, Pakistan), two members of ESCMID's Ethics Advisory Committee, to unpack different scenarios encountered in the field of infectious disease from an ethics standpoint: how one ethically allocates scarce resources like antimicrobials; whether there is ethical justification for coercive public-health measures like lockdowns; and whether the need to collect evidence to advance patient care could include other models besides opt-in informed consent. This episode was edited by Dr. Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Dr. Goulia Ohan of Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia.Further reading:Barosa M, et al. The Ethical Obligation for Research During Public Health Emergencies: Insights From the COVID-19 Pandemic. Med Health Care Philos 2024. DOI: 10.1007/s11019-023-10184-6Symons X, et al. Why should HCWs receive priority access to vaccines in a pandemic? BMC Med Ethics 2021. DOI: 10.1186/s12910-021-00650-2Thorsteinsdottir B and Madsen BE. Prioritizing health care workers and first responders for access to the COVID19 vaccine is not unethical, but both fair and effective – an ethical analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 2021. DOI: 10.1186/s13049-021-00886-2Huttner A, Leibovici L, Theuretzbacher U, Huttner B, Paul M. Closing the evidence gap in infectious disease: point-of-care randomization and informed consent. Clin Microbiol Infect 2017;23(2):73-77. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2016.07.029

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 Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, for a timely discussion on tick-borne diseases. Topics covered include:Observations from this year's tick season as we approach the end of July — a peak month for tick-borne disease transmission — along with trends in reported tick-borne pathogens over the past two decades.Algorithms developed by Mayo Clinic to guide clinicians in selecting the right tests for tick-borne and mosquito-borne diseases. The emergence of rare and esoteric infections and the challenges posed by vectors that carry and transmit multiple pathogens in a single bite.Shotgun metagenomics' growing role in the diagnosis of vector-borne infections.More resources Read "Update on North American tick-borne diseases and how to diagnose them" in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology for more insights from Drs. Pritt and Theel. You can also explore tools and information from Mayo Clinic Laboratories, including region-specific details, algorithms, prevention tools, and more. 

Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are valuable given their broad-spectrum activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and their high penetration into various tissues. Yet FQs have also caused concern, with some market withdrawals, important and sometimes long-lasting adverse drug events, and substantial collateral effects on the microbiota. In this episode of Communicable, hosts Emily McDonald and Thomas Tängdén invite Staffan Tevell (Karlstad, Sweden) and Bernadette Young (Oxford, UK) to weigh in on the pro-con debate of FQ use, especially for periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs), which can entail longer treatment durations. They review the standard of care for PJIs, including FQs in combination with rifampicin vs other antibiotic combinations, the impact of the OVIVA trial advocating for early oral switch strategies, the long list of rare but important side effects, and how best to preserve FQs for clinical indications that most need them.      This episode is a follow-up from Tevell and Young's recently published systematic review of the role of FQs in PJIs [1]. It was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Ljiljana Lukić of University Hospital for Infectious Diseases in Zagreb, Croatia. The executive producer of Communicable is Angela Huttner. ReferencesTevell S, et al. To heal or harm: A systematic review of the role of fluoroquinolones in periprosthetic joint infections. CMI Communications 2025. DOI: 10.1016/j.cmicom.2025.105103Further readingMandell LA, et al. Antimicrobial Safety and Tolerability: Differences and Dilemmas. Clin Infect Dis 2001. JSTOR http://www.jstor.org/stable/4461522.Pham TDM, et al. Quinolone antibiotics. Medchemcomm 2019. DOI: 10.1039/c9md00120d. Rodrigues CF and Silva F. The Rise, Fall, and Rethink of (Fluoro)quinolones: A Quick Rundown. Pathogens 2025. DOI: 10.3390/pathogens14060525Slimings C and Riley TV. Antibiotics and hospital-acquired Clostridium difficile infection: update of systematic review and meta-analysis. J Antimicrob Chemother 2014. DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkt477Davis JS, et al. Predictors of treatment success after periprosthetic joint infection: 24-month follow up from a multicenter prospective observational cohort study of 653 patients. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022. DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac048.Grossi O, et al. Gram- negative prosthetic joint infections managed according to a multidisciplinary standardized approach: risk factors for failure and outcome with and without fluoroquinolones. J Antimicrob Chemother 2016. DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkw202 Cortes-Penfield NW, et al. Adjunctive rifampin following debridement and implant retention for staphylococcal prosthetic joint infection: is it effective if not combined with a fluoroquinolone? Open Forum Infect Dis 2022. DOI:  10.1093/ofid/ofac582Pushkin R, et al. A Randomized Study Evaluating Oral Fusidic Acid (CEM-102) in Combination With Oral Rifampin Compared With Standard-of-Care Antibiotics for Treatment of Prosthetic Joint Infections: A Newly Identified Drug-Drug Interaction. Clin Infect Dis 2016. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciw665Bock M, et al. Rifampicin reduces plasma concentration of linezolid in patients with infective endocarditis. J Antimicrob Chemother 2023. DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkad316   Zeller V, et al. Influence of the clindamycin administration route on the magnitude of clindamycin-rifampicin interaction: a prospective pharmacokinetic study. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2021.04.017 Bernard L, et al. Antibiotic Therapy for 6 or 12 Weeks for Prosthetic Joint Infection. N Engl J Med 2021. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2020198Vollmer NJ, et al. Safety and Tolerability of Fluoroquinolones in Patients with Staphylococcal Periprosthetic Joint Infections, Clin Infect Dis 2021. DOI 10.1093/cid/ciab145Gopalakrishnan C, et al. Association of fluoroquinolones with the risk of aortic aneurysm or aortic dissection. JAMA Intern Med 2020. DOI 10.1001/jamainternmed.2020.4199Li HK, et al. Oral versus Intravenous Antibiotics for Bone and Joint Infection (OVIVA). N Engl J Med. 2019. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1710926

If you're not washing your bath towel after every two uses, then you're risking your personal hygiene and exposure to bacteria.Dr. Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology in the University of Leicester, joins Kieran to discuss.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, discuss summertime illnesses and key insights from a recent diagnostic investment event. Together, they explore:Common summertime illnesses, along with tips for prevention. How investment in diagnostic tools influences innovation in the laboratory.The potential impact of growing interest in AI investments. The investment interest in liquid biopsy and its potential implications for clinical decision-making.How AI development may accelerate adoption of mass spectrometry, proteomics, and similar advancements in clinical laboratories. 

The Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook (CMPH) has long been a trusted resource for laboratories.  With the release of its 5th edition, this essential reference continues to guide clinical microbiologists through evolving standards, methods, and best practices. In this episode, Luis is joined by the editors‑in‑chief, Dr. Amy Leber and Dr. Carey‑Ann Burnham, to explore what's new in the latest edition, how the CMPH supports day‑to‑day work in the lab, and why it remains a cornerstone in clinical microbiology. (Originally published May 4, 2023.) Check out the website: https://www.letstalkmicro.com/ Questions? Feedback? Send those to letstalkmicro@outlook.com Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro  

Episode Notes Join host DASON Clinical Pharmacist Liaison Dr. Libby Dodds Ashley as she as talks with Dr. Emily Heil and Dr. Joe Kuti to review the recent article published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology titled: “Point-Counterpoint: Cascade Reporting—Useful Tool to Support Antimicrobial Stewardship, or Dangerously Misleading?” Together, they explore the practical and controversial aspects of cascade reporting. The article reviewed in this episode can be found here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40526395/ For more information about DASON, please visit: https://dason.medicine.duke.edu/

The adaptability of fungi to warmer temperatures is an obvious consequence of climate change. Perhaps less obvious is the role climate change has played on fungal pathogens emerging as a global health concern. While humans are mostly protected from fungal infections by our immune system and body temperature, a warming global climate could subvert the status quo. Some fungi are already adapted to warmer temperatures and causing invasive acute infections in humans: Candidozyma auris, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus, to name a few.  In this episode of Communicable, Angela Huttner and Josh Nosanchuk invite Arturo Casadevall, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins and this year's recipient of ESCMID's Excellence in Science Award, to discuss the world of fungi and their pathogenic potential in a warming world. Other topics include how to prepare for their emergence as a health threat, how fungi can be harnessed for applications that can benefit us, and ultimately answering the question Casadevall himself posed in the title of his recently published book, What if fungi win?This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Robin Aerts of University Hospital Antwerp, Belgium.  References1.        Casadevall, A with Desmon S. What if fungi win? Johns Hopkins University Press, 2024.2.        Smith DFG, et al. Environmental fungi from cool and warm neighborhoods in the urban heat island of Baltimore City show differences in thermal susceptibility and pigmentation. BioRxiv 2025. DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.10.566554  3.        Casadevall A and Pirofski L. Benefits and Costs of Animal Virulence for Microbes. mBio 2019. DOI: 10.1128/mBio.00863-194.        Cordero RJB et al. Radiation protection and structural stability of fungal melanin polylactic acid biocomposites in low Earth orbit. PNAS 2025. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.24271181225.        Dadachova E, et al. The radioprotective properties of fungal melanin are a function of its chemical composition, stable radical presence and spatial arrangement. Pigment Cell Melanoma Res 2008. DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-148X.2007.00430.x6.        Cordero RJB et al. The hypothermic nature of fungi. PNAS 2022. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221996120

Primrose Freestone, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology at University of Leicester, who will never go on a picnic tells us about the foods that she avoids.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, share insights from industry news and recent conferences, including PlatforMed. They explore:The significant interest in diagnostics for the advancement of cancer care.The Joint Commission's collaboration with the Coalition for Health AI to establish guidelines for the responsible use of artificial intelligence. The growing understanding that platforms offer an opportunity to expand access and make knowledge more accessible as platform-driven solutions become a reality.The role of laboratorians in guiding the ethical and effective use of data and emerging technologies — and what this means for educating future healthcare professionals.The critical importance of values and ethics in deploying new tools.

In der 96. Folge des Infektiopods geht es um Infektionen mit Clostridoides difficile. Wir sprechen über Mikrobiologie, Diagnostik und Therapie der C. difficile Infektion. Neuigkeiten gibt es zu Rezidivprophylaxen bei erneuter Antibiotikaexposition und bei Stammzelltransplantierten. Links: Leitlinie Gastrointestinale Infektionen Leitlinie „European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases: 2021 update on the treatment guidance document … „Infektiopod #96: Clostridoides difficile Update“ weiterlesen

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and Div Dubey, M.B.B.S., a neurologist and co-director of the Clinical Neuroimmunology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, explore the topic of peripheral neuropathy. Their discussion covers:The high prevalence of peripheral neuropathy and why early diagnosis is important. The complexities involved in diagnosing the condition.Symptoms that should prompt clinicians to order advanced testing early in the diagnostic process.How algorithms are enhancing the use of testing to complement other diagnostic tools.Ongoing discovery related to specific antibodies associated with neuropathies.Learn more in our e-book, "Peripheral neuropathy: Cutting through diagnostic dissonance with an algorithmic approach."

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) was long considered not to be a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and treatment was only for women to bear. That was the convention at least until Catriona Bradshaw and her team at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre published their groundbreaking clinical trial results earlier this year, demonstrating that treating male partners of women with BV prevented recurrence in those women. In this episode of Communicable, hosts Angela Huttner and Annie Joseph welcome back Bradshaw to discuss her trial's design, results, and clinical implications—with some guidelines already updated to include male partners in BV treatment regimens. The conversation also explores the complexities of BV diagnosis, the challenges of trial execution in general, and future research directions.This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Arjana Zerja (Mother Theresa University Hospital Centre, Tirana, Albania)ReferencesVodstricil LA, et al. Male-partner treatment to prevent recurrence of bacterial vaginosis. N Engl J Med 2025. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2405404Bacterial vaginosis in focus. Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC). https://www.mshc.org.au/sexual-health/bacterial-vaginosisFurther readingAuvert B, et al. Randomized, controlled intervention trial of male circumcision for reduction of HIV infection risk: the ANRS 1265 Trial. PLoS Med 2005. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0020298Bailey RC, et al. Male circumcision for HIV prevention in young men in Kisumu, Kenya: a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2007. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60312-2Bukusi E, et al. Topical penile microbicide use by men to prevent recurrent bacterial vaginosis in sex partners: A randomized clinical trial, Sex Transmi Dis 2011. DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e318214b82dCohen CR, et al. Randomized trial of Lactin-V to prevent recurrence of bacterial vaginosis. N Engl J Med 2020. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1915254Gray RH, et al. The effects of male circumcision on female partners' genital tract symptoms and vaginal infections in a randomized trial in Rakai, Uganda, Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2008.07.069King AJ, et al. Getting Everyone on Board to Break the Cycle of Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) Recurrence: A Qualitative Study of Partner Treatment for BV. Patient 2025. DOI: 10.1007/s40271-025-00731-zMehta S, et al. The microbiome composition of a man's penis predicts incident bacterial vaginosis in his female sex partner with high accuracy, Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00433Muzny CA, et al. An Updated Conceptual Model on the Pathogenesis of Bacterial Vaginosis. J Infect Dis 2019 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz342Mitchell CM, et al. Screening and characterization of vaginal fluid donations for vaginal microbiota transplantation, Sci Rep 2022. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22873-yPlummer EL, et al. A Prospective, Open-Label Pilot Study of Concurrent Male Partner Treatment for Bacterial Vaginosis. mBio 2021. DOI: 10.1128/mBio.02323-21Plummer EL, et al. Combined oral and topical antimicrobial therapy for male partners of women with bacterial vaginosis: Acceptability, tolerability and impact on the genital microbiota of couples - A pilot study. PLoS One 2018. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190199Vodstrcil LA, et al. Bacterial vaginosis: drivers of recurrence and challenges and opportunities in partner treatment. BMC Med 2021. DOI: 10.1186/s12916-021-02077-3Wawer MJ, et al. Wawer MJ, et al. Circumcision in HIV-infected men and its effect on HIV transmission to female partners in Rakai, Uganda: A randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2009. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60998-3

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, discuss global trends in diagnostic manufacturing and their implications for laboratory professionals. Topics include: Emerging innovations in mass spectrometry, next-generation sequencing, automation, and artificial intelligence. Fierce competition in the global manufacturing landscape as new companies enter the market. Geopolitical dynamics influencing where innovations are deployed. Why laboratory professionals need to drive innovation implementation to maximize benefits for clinicians and their patients.

Editors of CMI Comms, Josh Davis, Erin McCreary and Emily McDonald return for round 2 taking turns to summarise and discuss late-breaker trials presented at ESCMID Global 2025 in Vienna, and whether or not these trials should change your practice. Part 2 covers the ALABAMA trial exploring the safety of penicillin-allergy delabelling using the penicillin allergy assessment pathway, the SOLARIO trial investigating short (≤7 days!) versus long (≥4 weeks) antibiotic courses for orthopaedic infections, the EAGLE-1 trial assessing oral gepotidacin for gonorrhoea, a randomised clinical trial (RCT) from Thailand on oral fosfomycin as carbapenem-sparing, de-escalating therapy in complicated UTIs, and a double-blind RCT from Israel comparing neutralising plasma to placebo for West Nile fever.    This episode was peer reviewed by Dr. Emanuele Rando of Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Seville, Spain and is the second of this two-part series covering selected clinical trials presented at ESCMID Global 2025.  Late-breaker trialsSandoe J, et al. Penicillin allergy assessment pathway versus usual clinical care for primary care patients with a penicillin allergy record to assess safety, de-labelling and antibiotic prescribing: The ALABAMA randomised controlled trialAngkanavisan K, et al. Oral fosfomycin after carbapenems as de-escalating therapy in complicated urinary tract infection: A randomisedcontrolled trialCanetti M, et al. Neutralising plasma versus placebo for hospitalised patients with West Nile fever: a double-blind randomised controlled trialDudareva M, et al. Short or long antibiotic regimes in orthopaedics: the SOLARIO multicentre randomised controlled trialWilson, J. Phase 3 randomised trial of oral gepotidacin for the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhoea (EAGLE-1) ReferencesIDSA. Public Comment: IDSA Guideline on Management and Treatment of Complicated Urinary Tract Infections; 19 Feb - 19 March 2025.Mostashari F, et al. Epidemic West Nile encephalitis, New York, 1999. Lancet. 2001. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(01)05480-0Angus DC. Optimizing the Trade-off Between Learning and Doing in a Pandemic. JAMA. 2020. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.4984Dudareva M. In: The 42nd Annual Meeting of the European Bone & Joint Infection Society. Barcelona, Spain: 26-28 Sept 2024. Li HK, et al. Oral versus Intravenous Antibiotics for Bone and Joint Infection (OVIVA). NEJM. 2019 doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1710926

Oversight and guidance for performing antibiotic susceptibility testing can be bewildering. There is an alphabet soup of agencies and bodies involved: FDA, CLSI, and USCAST, to name a few here in the US. How does the Food and Drug Administration, which has regulatory authority over AST, work with a nimble group like the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute?   Guests: Romney Humphries, Ph.D., D(ABMM), M(ASCP) Patricia Simner, Ph.D., D(ABMM) Links: Major updates to FDA-recognized Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute breakpoints are a win for the fight against antimicrobial resistance Join ASM for up to 50% off the publication fees when you publish in JCM or any of the ASM journals. Attend ASM Microbe This episode of Editors in Conversation is brought to you by the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and hosted by JCM Editor in Chief, Alex McAdam and Dr. Elli Theel. JCM is available at https://jcm.asm.org and on https://twitter.com/JClinMicro. Visit journals.asm.org/journal/jcm to read articles and/or submit a manuscript. Follow JCM on Twitter/

Fungal diseases are becoming more common, more dangerous, and more difficult to treat. There's concern that they may cause the next global pandemic. Rising global temperatures, better survival rates for vulnerable patients, and increased medical interventions contribute to the rise in fungal infections. Access to effective diagnostics and treatment remains limited, with significant disparities between high and low-income countries. Treating fungal infections is becoming more challenging as they build resistance to the drugs used to treat them. New therapies are being developed, including treatments that disrupt fungal DNA replication or interfere with essential proteins, offering some hope for long-term control.Contributors: Adilia Warris, Professor in Paediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Exeter, UKRita Oladele, Professor of Clinical Microbiology, University of Lagos and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, NigeriaArturo Casadevall, Professor and Chair of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, USMichael Bromley, Professor in Fungal Disease, University of Manchester, UKPresenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Louise Clarke Researcher: Maeve Schaffer Editor: Tara McDermott Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford Production co-ordinator: Tammy Snow(Image: Aspergillus fumigatus, seen under an optical microscope. Credit: BSIP/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

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., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss the value laboratories deliver for their entire health system. They cover how laboratories impact:Growth in revenueGrowth in lab chargesGrowth in ancillary servicesHospital length of stayControl over expensesYou can also find more in-depth information on this topic in “Maximizing your health system's financial performance,” a white paper with data-driven ways laboratories support their organizations. 

This episode of Communicable takes on a special format where editors of CMI Comms, Marc Bonten, Josh Davis, Erin McCreary, Emily McDonald, all clinical trialists in their own right, take turns to summarise and discuss late-breaker trials presented at ESCMID Global 2025 in Vienna. These include the CloCeBa trial on Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia treatment options, the Taper V trial on vancomycin as prophylaxis for Clostridioides difficile infection, the ASTARTÉ trial on temocillin versus meropenem for bacteraemia due to third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales, the HARVEST trial investigating high doses of rifampicin for tuberculosis meningitis, and the CAP5 trial on shortening antibiotic treatment for community-acquired pneumonia.   This episode was peer reviewed by Dr. Barbora Píšová (Czech Republic) and is the first of a two-part series covering selected clinical trials presented at ESCMID Global 2025. References: Lescure X, et al. Cloxacillin versus cefazolin for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (CloCeBa): a randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trialMcDonald EG, et al. Initial vancomycin taper for the prevention of recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection: the TAPER-V randomised controlled trialCogliati Dezza F, et al. Temocillin versus meropenem for the targeted treatment of bacteraemia due to third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (ASTARTÉ): a randomised, pragmatic trialVan Crevel R, et al. High-dose rifampicin in the treatment of tuberculous meningitis: results of the HARVEST phase III multi-country randomised clinical trialBastrup Israelsen S, et al. Shortened antibiotic treatment for 5 days in patients hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP5): a multicentre randomised controlled noninferiority trial

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., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss tick-borne diseases. They cover:Different diseases patients can get from ticks. Disease prevention, including Dr. Pritt's A through Z flash cards with tips for people to protect themselves from infectious insects.Laboratory medicine's valuable role in testing and educating providers to diagnose patients quickly and accurately.Clinical areas most likely to encounter patients with tick-borne diseases.Reliable sources for details about the prevalence of different diseases around the country (e.g., U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Mayo Clinic Laboratories).

In this episode of Communicable, hosts Angela Huttner and Annie Joseph join experts Kerrigan McCarthy of South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases and Natasha Crowcroft of the World Health Organisation to discuss the resurgence of measles as a consequence of misinformation campaigns and waning vaccination rates, how to diagnose and manage active measles cases, and post-exposure control measures to take to reduce further spread. They also address the broader challenges of the moment, including generalised vaccine hesitancy and sudden, sweeping budget cuts, underscoring the message that “measles anywhere is a problem everywhere.”This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Dr. Anelia Zasheva of the Military Medical Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria.

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., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss the recent court judgment on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) oversight of lab-developed tests (LDT). They covered:  Details about the ruling to vacate the FDA's rule on LDT oversight. What LDT oversight might look like in the future. How the laboratory medicine industry can help create an oversight approach that is positive for both patients and innovation. 

There are many challenges in the microbiology laboratory. As a leader, you have to deal with things like validations, verifications, and knowledge of regulations among other things. As a microbiologist in a non-leadership position you need to be familiar with some of these as well. With so much information out there, where do we go? In this episode Luis is joined by Dr. Rebekah Martin, author of the “101 Topics for Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Leaders” book. This book was made in order to bring all of this information to one place. In the episode Dr. Martin discussed the process of writing the book, what type of content it has, and more.  Link to purchase the book:  https://www.wiley.com/en-us/101+Topics+for+Clinical+Microbiology+Laboratory+Leaders%3A+Accreditation%2C+Verification%2C+Quality+Systems%2C+and+More-p-9781683674474   Questions? Feedback? Send those to letstalkmicro@outlook.com   Want to support the podcast? Here's how:   Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro   Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro  

How do infection prevention strategies vary across the globe? In this episode, Kelly Holmes and Lerenza Howard talk with infection control experts Dr. Filippo Medioli from Italy and Dr. Tatiana Izakovic from Slovakia. They explore how cultural attitudes, institutional policies, and limited resources shape infection control efforts worldwide. The conversation also compares how hospitals in different countries train and staff their infection prevention teams. Key topics include antimicrobial stewardship, the lasting impact of COVID-19 on protocols, and how innovations like AI and diagnostic stewardship are transforming the fight against healthcare-associated infections. Don't miss this vital conversation! Hosted by: Kelly Holmes, MS, CIC, FAPIC and Lerenza L. Howard, MHA, CIC, LSSGB About our Guests: Filippo Medioli, MD Born in Milan, Dr. Filippo Medioli is an Infectious Diseases Specialist at Humanitas Research Hospital in Italy and a PhD Candidate at the same institution. His expertise extends to antimicrobial stewardship and clinical infectious diseases, reflected in his role as an ad hoc member of the ESGAP Executive Committee. Dr. Medioli has broadened his international experience through a clinical observership at Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío (HUVM) in Seville, Spain, from May to July 2024. Additionally, he serves as the Network Officer for the Trainee Association of European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases or ESCMID, beginning in April 2024, fostering collaboration among early-career infectious disease specialists. In his free time, he enjoys expressing his creativity through painting and drawing. Tatiana Izakovic, MD, MHA, CIC Tatiana Izakovic, MD, MHA, CIC is an experienced hospital epidemiologist and infection control specialist. She is currently a PhD candidate at Comenius University School of Medicine, where she also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Hygiene. Dr. Izakovic has held leadership roles in infection prevention and hospital epidemiology, including serving as a hospital epidemiologist at Hospital Bory and as an infection control consultant. She is an active member of international professional organizations, including ESCMID and APIC, where she sits on the Communications Committee. Her research and presentations focus on hospital-associated infections, patient safety, and epidemiological strategies. Dr. Izakovic holds an MD from Comenius University, an MHA from the University of Iowa, and a CIC certification from CBIC.

ESCMID Global, ESCMID's flagship congress, kicks off this Friday in Vienna. In light of that, Angela Huttner and Thomas Tängdén sit down with ESCMID leadership, President Robert Skov and Immediate-Past President Annelies Zinkernagel in this episode of Communicable. Together they discuss the roles of medical societies like ESCMID in shaping healthcare policy, the importance of scientific communication, and lessons learned from the COVID pandemic. The conversation highlights ESCMID's priorities for the future on addressing antimicrobial resistance, fostering international collaboration and new educational initiatives. The episode also features personal anecdotes about what makes coming together at ESCMID Global so special. Tune in for a comprehensive look at how ESCMID is championing medical progress in infection for a healthier tomorrow.This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and not peer reviewed.ReferencesGlobal impact of US policy changes: The ESCMID perspective. CMI Comms 2025;2(2): 105073.Malani AN, Sharland M, Clancy CJ, Skov R, ESCMID & IDSA Executive Boards. A global call to action to fight antimicrobial resistance: IDSA and ESCMID joint white paper. CMI Comms 2024; 1(2): 105033.Baghdadi JD & Morgan DJ. Diagnostic tests should be assessed for clinical impact. CMI Comms 2024; 1(2): 105010.

Picture this, you wake up one morning with nausea, body aches, abdominal pain, and despite sleeping all night, you are exhausted. You then find yourself running to the restroom with watery and somewhat explosive diarrhea. You think to yourself – what could this be? Well, if the year was 2023, in the summer and you happen to live in Texas, chances were somewhat high that you had probably had cyclosporiasis.  And today, we are going to talk about this particular parasite and focus in on what our options are for detecting it given that it is not routinely picked up on O&P exams. And while there are molecular panels out there that include Cyclospora as a target, as our speakers will share, there is an easier and cheaper approach we can consider to quickly ID this pathogen. Guests: Dr. Angela Ma. Public Health Ontario and Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto Dr. Marc Couturier. Drector of the clinical microbiology lab at NorDx lab at MaineHealth in Scarborough, Maine Links: Shedding new light on Cyclospora: how the use of ultraviolet fluorescence microscopy can improve diagnosis of cyclosporiasis Join ASM for up to 50% off the publication fees when you publish in JCM or any of the ASM journals. Attend ASM Microbe This episode of Editors in Conversation is brought to you by the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and hosted by JCM Editor in Chief, Alex McAdam and Dr. Elli Theel. JCM is available at https://jcm.asm.org and on https://twitter.com/JClinMicro. Visit journals.asm.org/journal/jcm to read articles and/or submit a manuscript. Follow JCM on Twitter/

In this episode of the EMJ Podcast, Jonathan Sackier sits down with Jose Alexander, Clinical Microbiologist and Director of Microbiology at AdventHealth Orlando, to explore the cutting edge of infectious disease diagnostics. From next-generation sequencing to rapid tests for brain-eating amoeba, Alexander shares insights into the latest innovations shaping the field, the fight against antimicrobial resistance, and the future of microbiology diagnostics. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 03:55 – Alexander's introduction to microbiology 05:42 – Developing a rapid test for a brain-eating amoeba 09:40 – Where is this amoeba found? 12:13 – Next-generation sequencing in infectious disease 14:36 – Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype/genotype service 17:06 – Vaccine hesitancy 19:03 – Antimicrobial resistance 22:02 – The discovery of a novel variant of Klebsiella pneumoniae 24:32 – The clinical use of bacteriophages 27:01 – The future of the field 28:41 – Alexander's three wishes for healthcare

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., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss the evolution of retail health. They cover several key topics, including:The emergence of retail health locations.Three types of care that are well-suited for a retail approach to healthcare.The importance of incorporating diagnostics when designing retail health.Keep up with the latest diagnostic news and Dr. Morice's insights on LinkedIn and X. 

Communicable returns to the topic of gender dynamics in medicine in the second half of this special. This round, Angela Huttner wants to hear from the men, CMI Comms editors Marc Bonten, Josh Davis, Navaneeth Narayanan and Thomas Tängdén, about tackling issues like the evolving expectations at home and work, the impact of parental-leave policies, and the systemic biases that continue to shape careers. Personal anecdotes and reflections highlight both the progress made and the hurdles that still exist in striving for true gender equity in the medical profession. Editors Erin McCreary and Annie Joseph of CMI Comms also participate in the discussion, with Annie sharing an interesting follow-up to her story told in part 1.

Dr Primrose Freestone Senior Lecturer in Clinical Microbiology at the University of Leicester talks about how dirty your water bottle could actually be.

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., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss infectious disease activity around the nation. They cover:    The high prevalence of influenza A, avian influenza, measles, and COVID-19. Reliable resources for information on the spread of infectious diseases. Prevention measures and their impact on the spread of infectious diseases. The risks associated with multiple infectious diseases circulating simultaneously at high rates. 

John Maytham speaks with Nazir Ismail, Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases at Wits University, about an extraordinary new discovery in the immune system that could revolutionize the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections. Scientists have found that the proteasome, previously known for recycling proteins, has an unexpected ability to produce bacteria-killing chemicals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In honour of International Women's Day, Communicable releases the first of a two-part special on gender dynamics within the fields of infectious diseases and clinical microbiology. Moderated by Angela Huttner, part 1 focuses on the women's perspectives, featuring CMI Comms editors Erin McCreary, Annie Joseph, and Huttner herself, who together reflect on personal experiences of gender bias in the workplace. They discuss differential (mis)treatment, break down common gendered situations in the workplace, and explore what individuals, institutes and society can do to promote a more inclusive, supportive environment for all. Editors Marc Bonten, Josh Davis, Navaneeth Narayanan and Thomas Tängdén of CMI Comms also join for part 1.

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 Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, for a conversation about innovation in testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI). Topics include: The advantages and challenges of new types of specimen collection and testing methods, including over-the-counter, at-home, and point-of-care options. Implications home testing has for clinicians and public health. Barriers to making more at-home collection and over-the-counter testing products for STI testing.The growing need for tests to detect resistance markers as antimicrobial resistance increases. 

Several publications have described wondrous therapeutic effects of faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) on Clostridioides difficile infection. Yet the recent randomised trial assessing FMT in US veterans was terminated early for futility. In this episode, hosts Angela Huttner and Marc Bonten delve into the history, application, and complexities of FMT with experts Maria Vehreschild (Frankfurt University Hospital, Germany) and Dimitri Drekonja (Minneapolis Veteran Affairs Care System and University of Minnesota, US), who led the US trial. From the regulatory challenges and trial nuances to important new research, this conversation sheds light on a potentially revolutionary yet controversial treatment. Episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer-reviewed by Arjana Zerja (Mother Theresa University Hospital Centre, Tirana, Albania).Other mentions:EurFMTEuropean Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare. Guide to the quality and safety of tissues and cells for human application. vol. 5th ed. EDQM Council of Europe; 2022. https://freepub.edqm.eu/publications/17/detail LiteratureDrekonja DM et al (2024) Clin Infect Dis, doi: 10.1093/cid/ciae467

Just how gross and disgusting is your kitchen sponge?And is your kitchen sink actually dirtier than your toilet seat?Dr Primrose Freestone, Associate Professor in Clinical Microbiology at Leicester University joins Seán to discuss.

The past year in Clinical Microbiology, as seen through the lens of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. Four JCM editors have each selected a paper they consider to be among the “best” we published in 2024. Of course there are no objective criteria for what makes a paper the “best.” So, by “best,” we mean “a paper that I find exciting.” View this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK9ZqZUrDiY Guests: Patricia Simner, Ph.D., D(ABMM), Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Romney Humphries, Ph.D., D(ABMM), M(ASCP), Vanderbilt University Medical Center Links: Wood RC, Luabeya AK, Dragovich RB, Olson AM, Lochner KA, Weigel KM, Codsi R, Mulenga H, de Vos M, Kohli M, Penn-Nicholson A, Hatherill M, Cangelosi GA. 2024. Diagnostic accuracy of tongue swab testing on two automated tuberculosis diagnostic platforms, Cepheid Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and Molbio Truenat MTB Ultima. J Clin Microbiol 62:e00019-24. Rodino KG, Luethy PM, Abbott AN, Bender JM, Eberly AR, Gitman M, Leber A, Dien Bard J, . 2024. Defining the value of medical microbiology consultation. J Clin Microbiol 62:e00359-24. Giske CG, Bressan M, Fiechter F, Hinic V, Mancini S, Nolte O, Egli A. 2024. GPT-4-based AI agents—the new expert system for detection of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms?. J Clin Microbiol 62:e00689-24. Bloomfield M, van der Werff K, Todd S, Bocacao M, Reed H, Balm M, Blackmore T. 2024. An exception-reporting approach for wound swab culture: effect on post-report antibiotic initiation. J Clin Microbiol 62:e00342-24. Join ASM for up to 50% off the publication fees when you publish in JCM or any of the ASM journals. Attend ASM Microbe This episode of Editors in Conversation is brought to you by the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and hosted by JCM Editor in Chief, Alex McAdam and Dr. Elli Theel. JCM is available at https://jcm.asm.org and on https://twitter.com/JClinMicro. Visit journals.asm.org/journal/jcm to read articles and/or submit a manuscript. Follow JCM on Twitter/

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., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, for a conversation about quality management. Specifically, they discuss: The benefit of investing in quality management for patients, staff, and the organization.How Mayo Clinic's Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology in Rochester evolved and grew its quality management program.The advantage of holding 5–10-minute huddles each day.How the lab leverages education on quality tools and Gemba Walks to empower all staff to invest in quality management.

Despite being preventable and curable, tuberculosis remains a major global health threat, infecting over 10 million people and claiming more than 1 million lives every year. In this episode of Communicable, hosts Angela Huttner and Navaneeth Narayanan discuss tuberculosis with experts Lorenzo Guglielmetti of Doctors without Borders and Olha Konstantynovska of Kharkiv National University, Ukraine. Key topics include the history, transmission, and pathophysiology of tuberculosis, as well as current diagnostic challenges and treatments for drug-resistant strains. The conversation highlights Lorenzo's work on the endTB project and Olha's experiences managing tuberculosis during the war in Ukraine. Despite advancements in treatment, the episode underscores the urgent need for political will and funding to combat this global health threat.This episode was edited by Kathryn Hostettler and peer reviewed by Dr. Maria Ana de Quadros Flores e Santos of Unidade Local de Saude Santa Maria, Lisbon, Portugal. Abbreviations and terminology used in this episode:MSF: Médecins sans Frontières, or Doctors without Borders (msf.org)FIND: Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (www.finddx.org)‘Intoxication symptoms' are synonymous with ‘constitutional symptoms' or ‘B symptoms' of tuberculosis and include fever, night sweats, and unintentional weight loss.  Literature:endTB ProjectAnnual global tuberculosis report by WHO 2024 Dorman SE, et al. Four-Month Rifapentine Regimens with or without Moxifloxacin for Tuberculosis. N Engl J Med 2021 doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2033400Guglielmetti L, et al. Oral Regimens for Rifampin-Resistant, Fluoroquinolone-Susceptible Tuberculosis. N Engl J Med 2025 doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2400327

Primrose Freestone, Senior Lecturer 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, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss recent business trends in diagnostics and why it is important for pathologists to stay informed about these trends. Their conversation covers: What's driving a renewed interest in investing in diagnostics.Why the knowledge pathologists have is so valuable in the current landscape.How the evolving expectations of laboratory professionals will make it important to stay informed about business trends.

La Dra. Ana Valeria Aguirre, Rehabilitadora e investigadora clínica en MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital y el Dr Eduardo Bauer del hospital TIRR en Houston, Texas, hablan sobre el tema “La orina no es estéril”, en este podcast, hablaran sobre qué es el urobioma, qué investigaciones se han realizado hasta la fecha sobre este tema y las direcciones futuras para esta área de investigación. Artículos discutidos en el podcast:Urine Is Not Sterile: Use of Enhanced Urine Culture Techniques To Detect Resident Bacterial Flora in the Adult Female Bladder | Journal of Clinical Microbiology (asm.org)The Female Urinary Microbiome: a Comparison of Women with and without Urgency Urinary Incontinence | mBio (asm.org)Redefining Healthy Urine: A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Metagenomic Study of People With and Without Bladder Dysfunction | Journal of Urology (auajournals.org) 

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., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss Dr. Morice's recent article in Becker's Hospital Review, “Nine Developments Predicted to Shape Laboratory Medicine and Diagnostics in 2025,” and go deeper into conversation about: The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence and large language models.Digital pathology.Proteomics, metabolomics, and mass spectrometry.

Looking for a dynamic and rewarding career? Learn what it means to be a Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Director and the necessary steps to get there. It's a diverse job encompassing infectious diseases diagnostic testing, patient care, teaching, and research. This episode is geared for those who are interested in pursuing (or already have) a Ph.D. or M.D. Guests: Alexandra Bryson, Ph.D. Andrea Prinzi, Ph.D Links: Join ASM for up to 50% off the publication fees when you publish in JCM or any of the ASM journals. This episode of Editors in Conversation is brought to you by the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and hosted by JCM Editor in Chief, Alex McAdam and Dr. Elli Theel. JCM is available at https://jcm.asm.org and on https://twitter.com/JClinMicro. Visit journals.asm.org/journal/jcm to read articles and/or submit a manuscript. Follow JCM on Twitter/

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 Erin Graf, Ph.D., co-director of Microbiology in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, to discuss benefits of automation in the laboratory.   Topics of discussion include:Specific examples of how they are using automation in the laboratory. Strategies for ensuring a smooth implementation and a positive experience for staff. The potential of automation to support staff and continued patient care excellence amid projected labor shortages in the future. 

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., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss emerging concerns about H5N1 avian influenza. Specific topics of discussion include:Patterns of transmission and what they indicate about the potential of person-to-person transmission. Tools, tests, and processes that emerged in recent years that are making it easier to understand and track this virus. Remaining unknowns about the virus and how it could evolve. 

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., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss the progress of artificial intelligence (AI) and what's next in this space.Specific topics of discussion include:What's driving the rapid acceleration of AI advancements.Ethical concerns and opportunities.How expenses, payment models, and culture influence AI advancements.The need to rethink training and education amid the rise of AI solutions.

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., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss the latest in infectious disease outbreaks.    Specific topics of discussion include:Recent trends in the spread of H5 bird flu and dengue fever. Why it's important to think globally when monitoring infectious diseases.Extra precautions to take during the holiday travel season to keep you and those around you healthy.