Let's Talk Micro

In this special episode, I'm joined by three leaders who helped shape the conversation at the 2025 Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Summit in Detroit: Dr. Lauren Hunt, Dr. Linoj Samuel, and Dr. Robert Tibbetts. Together, we explore how this intimate, multidisciplinary summit brought together clinical microbiology, infectious diseases, stewardship, public health, policy, and veterinary medicine to tackle the growing challenges of antimicrobial resistance.

We break down the key themes that emerged throughout the meeting—shared accountability, One Health collaboration, diagnostic innovation, payer perspectives, and the urgent need for equitable access to testing. You'll hear about surprising insights, personal stories that brought AMR's impact into sharp focus, and the collaborative projects already taking root as a result of this year's summit.

Whether you're on the bench, managing stewardship programs, shaping policy, or simply passionate about the future of diagnostics, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the conversations and partnerships driving AMR action forward.

Thank you to Lauren, Linoj, and Robert for joining me—and to everyone committed to advancing the fight against AMR. One Health, one fight.

If you'd like to explore more background from last year's summit, here are two excellent resources:

What does antimicrobial resistance look like when your patients range from dogs and cats to cattle, wildlife, and everything in between? And how do we make sense of AST, breakpoints, contamination, and genotypic tools across such a diverse microbiological world?

In this episode, Luis is joined by Dr. Kelli Maddock, DrPH (North Dakota State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory) and Dr. Stephen Cole (University of Pennsylvania), two leaders shaping the future of veterinary microbiology, antimicrobial stewardship, and CLSI veterinary standards.

Together, they explore AMR and AST through a true One Health lens, showing how animal, human, and environmental health are interconnected in everyday diagnostic work.

Drawing from their recent American Journal of Veterinary Research article on AMR challenges in veterinary medicine, the discussion highlights:

• The biggest challenges in veterinary AST, from species diversity to contamination

• Phenotypic vs genotypic testing and concerns around WGS-based "treatment predictions"

• How selective reporting ("nudging") strengthens antimicrobial stewardship

• Why every animal result matters in a One Health framework

Whether you come from human or veterinary microbiology, this episode reveals the shared challenges across sectors — and the diagnostic, collaborative, and educational steps needed to strengthen AMR response in a One Health world.

In this final episode of our special four-part series in partnership with bioMérieux, we bring all the pieces together.

Throughout the series, we explored the diagnostic pathway from multiple angles:

• Episode 1: The evolution of antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST)

• Episode 2: Molecular diagnostics for bloodstream infections

• Episode 3: FAST AST and the impact of getting susceptibility data hours sooner

Today, in Episode 4, we shift to diagnostic stewardship and lab optimization — the strategies that ensure the right tests are used at the right time, and that workflows support efficient, meaningful, and actionable results.

Luis is joined by Alyssa Walker, Infectious Diseases Pharmacist and Medical Advisor, and Jenny Harder, Lab Optimization Consultant with experience in managing a microbiology laboratory. Together, they explore how smarter workflows and better diagnostic decisions amplify the value of every ID and AST result.

• What diagnostic stewardship really means — right test, right patient, right time

• How lab optimization streamlines workflow, reduces waste, and improves turnaround times

• Key challenges labs face today (staffing, training, legacy processes) and how to address them

• How tools like BioFire Fireworks and Syndromic Trends enhance decision-making and support stewardship

By connecting stewardship principles with optimized workflows, labs can turn rapid diagnostics into real clinical impact — faster decisions, smarter therapy, and better patient outcomes.

This episode is sponsored by bioMérieux, a global innovator in infectious disease diagnostics.

Here they are:

• Episode 198 – Let's Talk: The Evolution of AST

• Episode 204 – In the Bloodstream: Diagnosing Infections Faster

• Episode 211 – At the Speed of AST: Diagnosing Resistance Faster

This episode is sponsored by bioMérieux, a global innovator in infectious disease diagnostics.

Resources from this episode:

In this Micro Minutes episode, Luis breaks down classic microbiology traits that usually hold true, but not always. From indole-negative E. coli to non-swarming Proteus and oxidase-negative Pseudomonas, this quick episode highlights real-world exceptions that can catch techs and students off guard.

Learn how to spot:

• Indole-negative E. coli (98% rule + inactive biotypes)

• Lactose-fermenting look-alikes like Citrobacter freundii

• Proteus species that don't swarm

• Pseudomonas species that test oxidase negative

A fast, practical reminder that no single biochemical test should stand alone.

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Welcome to the very first Micro Minutes, a new quick-hit series from Let's Talk Micro designed for students, techs, and anyone who wants fast, practical microbiology insights in under 10 minutes.

In this episode, we tackle a common misconception that microbiologists can make at the bench when interpreting a single plate: MacConkey agar.

Many assume:

"If it doesn't grow on MacConkey, it's not a gram-negative rod." "If it does grow on MacConkey, it must be a gram-negative rod."

Both are wrong — and today we break down why.

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