Let's Talk Micro

This episode features an interview with Dr. Carey-Ann Burnham, Dr. Daniel Webber and Meghan Wallace from Washington University in St. Louis. They are the authors of a study where disk diffusion testing was performed on isolates that had an incubation time of 6 hours. One of the challenges in Microbiology is time. In Microbiology organisms are incubated for 18 to 24 hours, Tune in to this episode to find out the results of this study. Link to article is attached.

In January there was an episode about Staphylococcus argenteus, a member of the S. aureus complex. This episode features an interview about a new member of the Staphylococcus aureus complex: Staphylococcus singaporensis. Dr . Jeanette Teo joins the podcast to discuss her study about this organism. How similar is S. singaporensis to S. aureus? Any virulence factors? Tune in to find out.

What is Todd Hewitt broth? Is it the same as LIM broth? What's in it? In this episode I go over Todd Hewitt Broth, and two PCR tests used for the detection of S. agalactiae (GBS).

In this episode I continue going over species of Streptococcus. This week's episode is about Streptococcus agalactiae. What is the Lancefield group of this Strep species? Is it pathogenic?. Tune in to this episode to find the answer to these questions and more.

Wohlfahrtiimonas what? Have you heard about this organism? It is a gram negative rod and it is very unusual. In this episode Dr. Paul Luethy from the University of Maryland School of Medicine comes to the podcast to discuss a case regarding this organism. How is it identified? Does it grow on standard media? What about susceptibilities? Tune in to this episode to find out. The case was published in the Emergent Infectious Diseases journal from the CDC . Link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/27/12/21-0327_article

In this episode I go over three tests used for the detection of S. pyogenes: two antigen based and one PCR. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each one? Do negative results need to be confirmed by a culture? Tune in to find out.

After going over Staph and other gram positive cocci (gpc) in clusters, now is the turn for gram positive cocci in chains. This week's episode is about S. pyogenes or Group A Strep (GAS). What is the clinical significance of GAS? How do we identify it in the lab?. Tune in to this episode to find the answers to these questions and more.

This episode goes beyond Microbiology. It is about Medical Laboratory Sciences. In the episode I talk to Xander Fernandes and Maria Roussakis, two Medical Laboratory Technologists from Ontario, Canada. They talk about their website, medlabscholar.com, which contains great resources for Medical Laboratory Science students and professionals. What can we do to bring more awareness to this profession? Tune in to find out.

In this week's episode I continue going over Coagulase negative Staph. I also go over other gram positive cocci in clusters such as Micrococcus and Aerococcus. Are these pathogenic? How do we identify them in the lab? Tune in to find out.

In this episode I go over Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus or CNS. Are they pathogenic or normal flora? Do we identify them or is a presumptive identification enough? Tune in to this episode to find out.

This episode features an interview with Dr. Robin Patel and Dr. Audrey Schuetz to discuss an article titled "Phenotypic and Genomic Profiling of Staphylococcus argenteus in Canada and the United States and Recommendations for Clinical Result Reporting". They are Co-Directors of the Bacteriology Laboratory at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Challenges in identifying this organism are discussed. Staphylococcus argenteus is part of the Staphylococcus aureus complex, and is very similar to S. aureus, including morphology, biochemicals and clinical manifestations. See links for the article.

This the last episode of 2021. What is chromogenic agar? In this episode I go over chromogenic agar used to detect MRSA. I also talk about Mannitol salt agar and how it aids in the isolation of Staphylococcus aureus.

On this episode I go over how to identify Staphylococcus aureus from a standard set of agar plates. I also go over a test used to determine if this organism is an MRSA or not.

In this episode I talk about Staphylococcus aureus. This is one of the most common organisms seen in Clinical Microbiology and a very serious one. Tune in to find about more about this organism, including its pathogenicity and significance in health care settings. Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro

This episode is part two of a two-part episode. What are the limitations of the Vitek MS? In this episode I go over the limitations of the Vitek MS regarding identification of organisms. I also go over the pros and cons of having this system in the laboratory.

What is MALDI-TOF? How is it used in Clinical Microbiology?. This is the first part of a two part episode where I discuss MALDI-TOF, and its applications in Clinical Microbiology.

Instagram follower suggestion: After mentioning on a post that Pasteurella was my favorite, a follower suggested for me to make an episode about it. In this episode I talk about Pasteurella, and why do I like it.

In this episode I continue going over anaerobic bacteria. Is blood agar sufficient to recover anaerobes? Listen to this episode to learn about different media used for the recovery of anaerobic bacteria.

In this episode I continue going over anaerobes. Are all sources acceptable for anaerobic cultures? How do you achieve the anaerobic environment these organisms need to grow? Find out in this episode.

What is anaerobic bacteria? What is a facultative anaerobe? In this episode I introduce anaerobic bacteria and its relationship to oxygen and growth. Some species are mentioned.

Following up Dania's interview, in this episode I go over thioglycolate broth. What is it used for? Is it helpful in cultures? Listen to find out.

This week's episode features Let's Talk Micro's second interview. Dania Casellas is a microbiologist that performs testing on donor organs.

In this episode I continue going over tests and biochemicals for gram negative cocci. In addition I briefly go over different species of gram negative cocci and introduce new agar: Martin Lewis and Modified Thayer Martin.

In this episode I start going over tests and biochemicals for gram negative cocci. First up, the catarrhalis disk, used for the identification of Moraxella catarrhalis.

What is the urease test? What is the principle of it? Is it only used for gram negative rods? In this episode I go over the urea test, including its principle, reactions, and its differences and similarities to the TSI and LIA tests.

What is the lysine iron agar test? What is it used for? In this episode I go over this test including reactions and comparing and contrasting it with the TSI test.

What is TSI? Which organisms is it used for? In this episode I go over the Triple Sugar Iron test, including its components, how does it work and examples of organisms and their reactions.

In this episode I go over media that Karla Zamora mentioned in her interview such as Hektoen, XLD and Palcam. I discuss components of the agar, colonial morphology and more.

Let's Talk Micro's first interview features a conversation with Karla Zamora, an environmental microbiologist from Mexico. In this episode she talks about her work including techniques and organisms she works with.

In this episode I continue going over biochemicals for gram negative rods: oxidase. I also briefly discuss some species of gram negative rods and their oxidase results.

In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, we kick off biochemicals for Gram-negative rods with the indole test. After wrapping up the Gram-positive cocci last week, we now explore what indole is, how the test works, and how it helps differentiate organisms like E. coli, Proteus, and Klebsiella. A classic biochemical that still matters in today's microbiology lab. Check out the website: https://www.letstalkmicro.com/ Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro

In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, we continue exploring the tools that aid in the identification of gram-positive cocci. Tune in as we discuss the optochin disk, used to help identify Streptococcus pneumoniae, and the Microdase disk test, which supports the identification of Micrococcus species. These simple yet powerful tests remain essential in the clinical microbiology lab. Check out the website: https://www.letstalkmicro.com/ Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro

What is the PYR test? What is strep typing? In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, I explain how these tests are used to identify Gram-positive cocci in the lab. Learn what they are, how they work, and why they're important in clinical microbiology. Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro

What are biochemical tests—and how do they help identify bacteria? In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, I dive into two of the most commonly used biochemicals in clinical microbiology: catalase and coagulase. Learn what they are, how they work, and why they're essential tools in the micro lab. Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro

What do we use the 40x objective for? How does it compare to the 10x and 100x objectives? In this episode, I break down the differences between these microscope objectives and highlight when and why the 40x objective is used in the clinical microbiology lab. Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro

What exactly are blood cultures—and why do they matter? In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, we dive into the critical role of blood culture Gram stains. From how they're reported to how the media is set up, we break down what makes them unique compared to other specimen types. Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro

What do we actually look for when reading a Gram stain? In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, I break down the key morphologies and cellular arrangements you might encounter—and what they mean. From cocci in clusters to rods, we'll cover the essentials and go over standard reporting guidelines to help make sense of what's under the microscope. Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro

What is a Gram stain and how is it done? In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, I cover the basics of the Gram stain technique—from sample requirements to slide prep and staining. A quick refresher on a core microbiology skill! Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro

What exactly is agar, and why is it essential in microbiology? In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, we explore the different types of agar used in the lab—from blood agar to MacConkey—and what they help us detect. Whether you're culturing bacteria or interpreting results, understanding agar is fundamental. Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro

What is a Medical Laboratory Scientist—and what exactly is microbiology? In this kickoff episode of Let's Talk Micro, I introduce the podcast, share what you can expect from future episodes, and break down some basic microbiology terms. Whether you're a student, professional, or just curious—welcome to the micro-world! Questions? Feedback? Send those to [email protected] Want to support the podcast? Here's how: Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/letstalkmicro Buy me a Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/letstalkmicro