Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a common cause of pharyngitis, but deciding who should be tested and which testing method to use isn't always straightforward. In 2025, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) released updated guidelines on Group A streptococcal pharyngitis, bringing renewed attention to diagnostic stewardship and the use of clinical scoring systems to help guide testing decisions.

In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Dr. Christopher Doern returns to the podcast to break down the updated IDSA guidelines and what they may mean for clinical practice. We discuss clinical scoring systems such as Centor and McIsaac, antigen testing, culture, molecular diagnostics, and point-of-care testing. We also explore turnaround time and cost considerations, GAS carriage and the interpretation of positive results, and how diagnostic decisions connect with antimicrobial stewardship.

Tune in as we take a practical look at what's changing in Group A strep testing and how laboratories and clinicians can approach these updated recommendations.

This podcast episode is sponsored by Cepheid. The views and opinions expressed by the interviewer in this interview are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Cepheid.

IDSA Clinical Practice Guideline Update on Group A Streptococcal (GAS) Pharyngitis:
IDSA 2025 Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis Guideline

Current Laboratory and Point-of-Care Pharyngitis Diagnostic Testing and Knowledge Gaps:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39688598/

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Artificial intelligence is changing how healthcare professionals access and use clinical information. But what does that look like at the point of care?

In this episode of Let's Talk Micro, Luis is joined by Dr. Declan Kelly, physician, software engineer, and founder of Eolas Medical, to discuss the role of AI in clinical decision support. Dr. Kelly shares how challenges accessing institutional guidelines and clinical knowledge led to the development of Eolas Medical and how AI can help healthcare professionals find the information they need when making clinical decisions.

The conversation explores the importance of local guidelines, the connection between the clinical microbiology laboratory and antimicrobial stewardship, and how AI can help bridge the gap between laboratory data, institutional knowledge, and patient care. They also discuss evidence supporting these technologies, concerns surrounding AI hallucinations and clinical safety, and how clinical decision support may evolve in the years ahead.

Tune in to learn how AI is changing the way clinical knowledge is accessed and what that could mean for the future of healthcare.

This episode is brought to you in collaboration with Eolas Medical.

Eolas Medical is a clinical knowledge platform founded by physician Dr. Declan Kelly, who saw firsthand how hard it can be to find trusted guidance at the point of care. Using AI grounded exclusively in an organization's own approved protocols and guidelines, Eolas gives clinicians fast, accurate answers instead of generic search results. It is used across 90% of acute NHS trusts and 600+ sites globally, including Stanford and Mass General Brigham. For antimicrobial stewardship, a peer-reviewed study published in Nature Portfolio's npj Antimicrobials and Resistance found prescribing accuracy improved from 47% to 100% with Ask Eolas at the point of care.

Resources

Eolas Medical: https://www.eolasmedical.com/

Study — Enhancing quality of antimicrobial prescribing through 'Ask Eolas' (language model): a user-testing and simulation evaluation:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s44259-026-00187-7

Summary of study: Eolas Medical — Summary of the study and implications for antimicrobial stewardship

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• Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com

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Let's Talk Micro is back for a new season! In this season premiere, Luis is joined by Dr. Megan Amerson-Brown to discuss the important connection between clinical microbiology and infection prevention.

Dr. Amerson-Brown shares her career journey from the microbiology bench to infection prevention and ultimately laboratory leadership. She discusses how microbiologists contribute to infection prevention through surveillance, diagnostic stewardship, outbreak investigations, and collaboration with infection prevention teams.

The conversation also explores how laboratorians can become more involved in infection prevention while remaining in the laboratory, resources and certifications for those interested in the field, the importance of mentorship, and potential career pathways for microbiologists considering a transition into infection prevention.

Tune in to the season premiere and learn more about the role microbiologists play in infection prevention and the opportunities available both at and beyond the bench.

• a-IPC™ (Associate – Infection Prevention and Control) Examination — Information about the entry-level infection prevention and control certification discussed during the episode.

• CIC® (Certification in Infection Control and Epidemiology) Examination — Information about the CIC certification examination.

• APIC – Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology — Education, career development, and other resources for infection prevention professionals.

Stay connected with Let's Talk Micro:

• Website: letstalkmicro.com

• Questions or feedback? Email me at letstalkmicro@outlook.com

• Interested in being a guest on Let's Talk Micro? Fill out the form here: https://forms.gle/V2fT3asjfyusmqyi8

Support the podcast:

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