Best IDSA Podcasts (2025)

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205: Complicated UTIs: The New IDSA Guidelines 38:24

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2h ago38:24

38:24

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has released new guidelines for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections. In this episode, we break down the key updates: Changes to the definition of complicated UTIs The role of newer antibiotic agents How and when to use antibiograms A four-step framework for guiding therapy When car…

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204: In the Bloodstream: Diagnosing Infections Faster 35:35

5d ago35:35

35:35

Bloodstream infections can progress rapidly to sepsis—bringing high costs, high mortality, and lasting effects. In the second episode of this series in collaboration with bioMérieux, Luis speaks with Dr. Jeff Cies, Senior Medical Advisor at bioMérieux, about how molecular diagnostics are reshaping bloodstream infection diagnosis. They discuss: Limi…

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203: What’s New with Brucella? 44:44

12d ago44:44

44:44

Brucella is a familiar name in the lab—but recent updates to the sentinel guidelines are reshaping how we approach this pathogen. In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Laura Filkins and Dr. Paige Larkin to discuss the latest changes: updates in nomenclature, the removal of certain Brucella species from the select agent list, and the renewed emphasis o…

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202: AI vs. Superbugs: Can AI Help? 26:07

20d ago26:07

26:07

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to grow as a global health threat, making infections harder to treat and leaving fewer options for patients. The need for new antibiotics is an urgent matter — but traditional discovery methods are slow and limited. In this episode of Let’s Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Dr. James Collins, professor at MIT an…

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201: Spotlight: Rethinking AST-Disk Diffusion on Early Growth 28:15

26d ago28:15

28:15

Last week, we discussed early growth isolates for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and the importance of obtaining results sooner. This week, we revisit an earlier study that looked at early growth but using disk diffusion. In this episode, I was joined by Dr. Carey-Ann Burnham, Dr. Daniel Webber, and Meghan Wallace to discuss their work.…

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200: Early Growth, Faster Answers: Rethinking AST 40:04

1M ago40:04

40:04

In this episode of Let’s Talk Micro, Dr. Jennifer Dien Bard and Dr. Lucas Osborn discuss their recent study on early growth antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Traditional AST often requires 18–24 hours of incubation of isolates, delaying targeted treatment. Their research shows that using 6-hour early growth isolates with both automated an…

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Let's Talk HIV: Street Medicine 23:22

1M ago23:22

23:22

Anna Person, MD, FIDSA, discusses the role of street medicine in improving access to HIV services and opportunities to support SM programs under Medicaid with Nathan Nolan, MD, MPH, MPHE, Founder of Street Medicine STL and Chris Menschner, Director, Complex Care Programs at the Center for Health Care Strategies. Shape the future of ID with peers fr…

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Safeguarding Public Health with the Vaccine Integrity Project 30:58

1M ago30:58

30:58

Bruce Gellin, MD, MPH, FIDSA, ID physician and senior advisor at the Georgetown University Global Health Institute, joins Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, FPIDS, to discuss the Vaccine Integrity Project and the importance of ensuring vaccine policy remains grounded in evidence. The two explore strategies for countering misinformation, building public trust, …

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199: Antibiotics: What’s New in Treatment 36:53

1M ago36:53

36:53

This week, Luis is joined by Dr. Ashlan Kunz-Coyne to discuss some of the newest antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs). They explore why extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) are a growing concern, the impact of E. coli sequence type 131, and where new agents like cefepime–enmetazobactam, sulopenem, and tebipenem fit into treatment. T…

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198: Let’s Talk: The Evolution of AST 52:38

2M ago52:38

52:38

Season 5 premieres today! Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) is essential for guiding effective treatment—but how has it evolved, and what challenges are we still facing? In the first episode of this series in collaboration with bioMérieux, Dr. Andrea Prinzi joins Let’s Talk Micro to explore the evolution of AST—from early methods to modern…

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TBT: Talking Breakpoints with Dr. Andrea Prinzi 41:04

2M ago41:04

41:04

This episode of Let’s Talk Micro features Dr. Andrea Prinzi, a clinical microbiologist and frequent contributor to the American Society for Microbiology. Andrea joins the podcast to discuss a critical topic in clinical microbiology: antimicrobial susceptibility testing and breakpoints. Are labs using outdated breakpoints—and what does that mean for…

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TBT: Clinical Microbiology Procedures Handbook 26:25

2M ago26:25

26:25

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. Care…

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195: Diabetic Wound Cultures: From Chaos to Clarity in the Micro Lab 51:14

3M ago51:14

51:14

This week, Luis is joined by Dr. Christopher Doern from VCU Health to explore the complex world of diabetic wound cultures. How does diabetes impair wound healing—and what makes these infections so difficult to diagnose and treat? Dr. Doern dives into the microbiology behind diabetic foot wounds, highlighting the impact of bacterial diversity, spec…

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194: Live from ASM Microbe 2025: Poster Highlights, Trends & Takeaways 25:00

3M ago25:00

25:00

Recorded live at ASM Microbe 2025, this episode captures the energy of the American Society for Microbiology’s annual event. Luis shares his top takeaways from the conference floor—including standout poster presentations, emerging technologies, and trending topics in microbiology. One clear theme dominated this year: rapid diagnostics for identific…

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193: ASM 2025: Fast Science. Big Cases 48:42

3M ago48:42

48:42

In this episode of Let’s Talk Micro, we dive into the fast-paced world of rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Recorded live from ASM Microbe 2025, Luis is joined by Dr. Carey-Ann Burnham, CEO of Pattern Bioscience and Editor-in-Chief of the ASM Case Reports journal. Together, they explore how innovative technologies—like single-cell m…

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The Cost of Cutting Public Health (Pt. 2) 17:48

3M ago17:48

17:48

Judy Guzman-Cottrill, DO, Professor of Pediatrics at Oregon Health & Science University, and John Brooks, MD, former CDC medical officer, rejoin Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, FIDSA, to discuss the impact of federal funding cuts, including the return of preventable diseases, the loss of mental health resources, and what can be done to protect the …

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192: Stronger Together: Partnerships in Diagnostics 45:29

3M ago45:29

45:29

How familiar are you with partnerships and collaborations between the laboratory and the diagnostics industry? In this episode Luis is joined by Dr. Andrea Prinzi and Dr. Kristen Smith to explore how partnerships between clinical labs, public health institutions, and the diagnostics industry drive innovation in in-vitro diagnostics (IVDs). What is …

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191: TBT- Talking HIV with Dr. Hsu 21:26

4M ago21:26

21:26

TBT- This week Let's Talk Micro is talking about virology, specifically about the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). This episode features an interview with Dr. Hsu, a stem cell specialist from the Weill Medical College at Cornell University in New York. She discusses an article about a patient that has been possibly cured from HIV after a stem ce…

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The Cost of Cutting Public Health (Pt. 1) 24:59

4M ago24:59

24:59

In this two-part series, Judy Guzman-Cottrill, DO, Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases at Oregon Health and Science University, and John Brooks, MD, former CDC medical officer and epidemiologist, join Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, FIDSA, to discuss the real-time consequences of federal funding cuts on public health. From dism…

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190: Aztreonam-avibactam 34:50

4M ago34:50

34:50

This week Luis is joined by Dr. Callan Bleick and Dr. Mohammed Al Musawa to talk about an antibiotic that was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): aztreonam-avibactam. Our guests wrote a review about this drug and they joined the podcast to talk about it. What is aztreonam? What is avibactam? Why combine them? What type of a…

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189: Outbreak Detection System 34:31

4M ago34:31

34:31

There are many challenges when it comes to outbreak detection. It involves surveillance, time, and effort among other factors. Some of these challenges are linking multiple patients to an outbreak, or investigating a potential outbreak that turns out to be separate occurrences of an infection. In this episode Luis is joined by Dr. Alex Sundermann t…

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Gaslighting in ID and the Push for Fair Compensation 26:48

4M ago26:48

26:48

ID physicians Priya Nori, MD, FSHEA, FIDSA, and Gonzalo Bearman, MD, MPH, FACP, FSHEA, FIDSA, join Paul Sax, MD, FIDSA, to discuss challenges often faced by ID specialists, including gaslighting and uncompensated labor. The three discuss how physicians can advocate for themselves, set boundaries, and push for meaningful change within their institut…

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188: Haemophilus: ALA, susceptibilities, and more 25:27

4M ago25:27

25:27

This week Luis continues going over Haemophilus. This time he goes over biochemicals, testing systems, and susceptibility testing. What is the ALA test? What commercial systems are able to identify Haemophilus? What about for Haemophilus influenzae? What is HTM agar? Are there any vaccines for H. influenzae? Tune in to find out more. More informati…

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187: Haemophilus 26:53

5M ago26:53

26:53

In this episode Luis continues going over organisms. This time he goes over the genus Haemophilus. We start with an overview of the different species of Haemophilus. Why can’t Haemophilus grow on blood agar? What are the X and V factors? Satellite phenomenon? What is the gram stain? What about media? Tune in for the first part of a series about Hae…

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186: Talking CPEP Fellowship 51:27

5M ago51:27

51:27

If you are part of the clinical microbiology community, you might have heard of a CPEP Fellowship, or might have met someone pursuing one. In this episode Luis is joined by Dr. Samuel Goodfellow to talk about the Subcommittee on Postgraduate Educational Programs (CPEP) Fellowship. Dr. Goodfellow is currently participating in one and he joins us to …

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Changing Course: A Doctor’s Journey from Family Medicine to Infectious Diseases 25:20

5M ago25:20

25:20

Infectious diseases fellow Sam Peterson, MD, shares her unique journey to ID with Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, FPIDS. The two explore the power of mentorship, the value of storytelling, and what it takes to inspire the next generation of ID specialists.By Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)

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185: The Path to Microbiology: their journey pt. 3 1:20:29

5M ago1:20:29

1:20:29

What led or inspired you to choose the field of microbiology or laboratory medicine? Has your profession changed within the field? In this series where microbiologists and people from laboratory medicine talk about their careers, Luis is joined by Dr. Andrea Prinzi and Lisa Parlich. Andrea is a microbiologist that works in the industry and the co-h…

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184: Lariocidin 35:48

5M ago35:48

35:48

Discovery of new potential antimicrobial compounds is important as we take many measures to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). In this episode Luis is joined by Dr. Manoj Jangra and Dr. Dmitrii Travin to discuss lariocidin: a potential antibiotic. What is the mechanism of action? What are lasso peptides? Tune in to listen about the discovery of…

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183: 101 Topics for Clinical Microbiology Lab Leaders 30:51

6M ago30:51

30:51

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…

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Federal ACA Threats and How They Could Impact Access to HIV Care and Treatment 21:54

6M ago21:54

21:54

John Fangman, MD, discusses threats to the Affordable Care Act and how they could impact people with HIV with JoAnn Volk, MA, research professor, founder, and co-director of the Center on Health Insurance Reforms at Georgetown University’s McCourt School of Public Policy and Tim Horn, Director, Medication Access at NASTAD.…

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Navigating a Career in Infectious Diseases: A Guide for International Medical Graduates 21:49

6M ago21:49

21:49

Paul Sax, MD, FIDSA, is joined by infectious diseases physicians and international medical graduates, Vidya Sundareshan, MD, and Alfredo Mena Lora, MD, FIDSA, to discuss how international medical graduates (IMGs) can pursue a career in infectious diseases. The trio discuss visa options, job search strategies, and how political change could impact t…

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182: TBT- Next Generation Sequencing 47:29

6M ago47:29

47:29

The field of Microbiology continues to change. Organisms were primarily identified in the clinical laboratory by biochemical testing. Then MALDI-TOF came to the lab and was incorporated into the workflow. Now labs are bringing next-generation sequencing (NGS). What is NGS? How does it work? Have you heard of Nanopore technologies? In this episode D…

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181: Microbiology CAP Checklists: Latest Updates 26:02

6M ago26:02

26:02

Is your laboratory accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) ? Are you familiar with their checklists? What are the latest updates to the microbiology checklist? In this episode Luis is joined by Dr. Christi Wojewoda to discuss the latest updates to the microbiology checklist: media quality control and nomenclature. Why are some medi…

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Measles and the Rise of Vaccine Preventable Diseases 27:02

6M ago27:02

27:02

Paul Sax, MD, FIDSA, speaks with Adam Ratner, MD, MPH, Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and Director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital and Bellevue Hospital Center, about his book, "Booster Shots: The Urgent Lessons of Measles" and the rise of vaccine preven…

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180: CLSI M100-Ed35: updates and more 42:07

6M ago42:07

42:07

The latest edition of the CLSI M100 has been published. What are the latest updates? One of them is the deletion of breakpoints for Burkholderia cepacia complex. What are the recommendations for susceptibility testing? Dr. April Bobenchik returns to the podcast to talk to Luis about the latest updates. She also talks about the M45. Will there be an…

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Why Medicaid Matters: Why Protecting Medicaid Matters for People with HIV 27:00

6M ago27:00

27:00

Anna Person, MD discusses threats to the Medicaid program and how they could impact people with HIV with Kate McManus, MD, MSc, FIDSA, Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Virginia in the Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health and Amy Killelea, JD, Assistant Research Professor at the Georgetown University Center on…

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179: Eikenella 25:42

7M ago25:42

25:42

This week Luis continues going over organisms. This time he goes over Eikenella. Are there any other Eikenella species other than Eikenella corrodens? What is the morphology of E. corrodens? How about biochemicals? What are the members of the HACEK group? What is the HACEK group known for? Tune in to learn about this organism, which is seen in infe…

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178: Talking Micro with Janet Hindler 45:47

7M ago45:47

45:47

Talk about a great career! In this episode Luis is joined by Janet Hindler. Janet is a microbiologist with a career that has spanned over many decades. Just like most Medical Laboratory Scientists, she started working in the lab and early on she had a passion for microbiology. Then she got involved in work that took her beyond the bench such as the…

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Leveraging Analytics and Disease Forecasting in Public Health 25:40

7M ago25:40

25:40

IDSA Board Member Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, MPH, FIDSA, discusses public health forecasting and response efforts with Lior Rennert, PhD, director of the Center for Public Health Modeling and Response at Clemson University, and Dylan George, PhD, director of CDC’s Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA).…