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 and manual methods delivers accurate results up to 18 hours faster—without added costs or specialized equipment.

The conversation explores the study design, agreement rates with standard methods, and what faster AST means for patient care and antimicrobial stewardship.

Link to study: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00236-25

Link to disk diffusion study: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.03007-20

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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. The conversation also highlights clinical data, stewardship considerations, and how the infectious diseases and microbiology communities can work together to preserve these options. Plus, Dr. Kunz-Coyne reveals her favorite bug—Stenotrophomonas maltophilia—and why it’s unlike any other.

Link to sulopenem episode: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/35868135

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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 platforms like VITEK 2. We discuss the known issue of outdated breakpoints in clinical practice, the challenges with regulatory hurdles, and the impact of the 21st Century Cures Act.

What is the Cures Act, and how does it affect the way breakpoints are adopted? Why are delays still happening? And most importantly—what can laboratories, organizations, and manufacturers do to drive change?

Tune in to understand where we’ve been, where we are, and where we need to go in the world of AST.

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

Resources from bioMérieux: https://info.biomerieux.com/clin_us_2024_ams_handbook?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show-notes&utm_campaign=LetsTalkMicro

Additional breakpoint links: https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00106-25

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