ASM meetings and conferences provide forums for the most current scientific discoveries and research in microbiology.

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On-Line Broadcast of the 2003 Audioconference Programs

General Information

The standard ASM Audioconference program is available in a live teleconference format and is scheduled at 1:00 p.m. (east coast time) on each of the presentation days. Because of the time of day, it is typical that individuals and institutions that register to listen are usually no more than 5 time zones away from Washington, DC. The programs can be accessed through our toll free access number.

This on-line program was developed for individual convenience to enable those people who live and work in locations around the world and available at times other than 1:00 p.m. east coast time to access the programs. Programs will be available on line approximately two weeks after the original live broadcast and will be available for purchase one year. Once registered for a particular audioconference program, the participant will have unlimited access for a two week period.  The registration process will provide you with an individual login and password as well as the appropriate URL for the Program. Each program costs $40.00 and you must use a credit card to pay for access.

All programs provide for one hour of Category 1 Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit by the American Council of Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). In addition, California and Florida Continuing Education credits are available. For 2003, all audioconference presentations have been approved for all three CME/CE programs.

Program Information
As each Audioconference presentation becomes available, the title will become an active link to the registration module for that program. The following audioconferences make up the 2003 program.

200301. New Antibiotics

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2003 Speaker: George M Eliopoulos, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA Synopsis: Increasingly patients challenge us with infections resistant to many of the older antibiotics with which we are familiar. This session will examine the newer approved antimicrobial agents that may be useful against these organisms, and touch upon the promise of agents currently under clinical investigation.

200302. How to Handle Agents of Bioterrorism at the Bench Level for Clinical Microbiology Laboratories

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2003 Speaker: Harvey T Holmes, CDC, Atlanta, GA Synopsis: This audioconference will describe the biological properties of several biological agents suspected in bioterrorism events. Their key diagnostic features will be discussed, including aspects of biosafety/handling of such agents.

200303. Emerging Zoonoses: The Blurring Interface of Human and Animal Health

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Mar. 5, 2003 Speaker: Corrie C Brown, Univ. of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, GA Synopsis: The occurrence of emerging diseases in both humans and animals is increasing. Of all emerging diseases of humans, 75% are zoonotic and most emerging diseases of animals are having a significant impact on human health. Public and veterinary health are becoming increasingly intertwined.

200304. Methods and Interpretations of Wound Cultures

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Mar. 19, 2003 Speaker: Susan E Sharp, Health Midwest, Kansas City, MO Synopsis: Analysis and interpretation of clinical wound samples submitted for bacterial culture has not been well standardized and there are a variety of methods utilized for collection, processing, culturing, working up and reporting results for these specimens. Controversies regarding bacteriologic analysis of wound specimens include the best methods for collection, how to transport and store swabs after collection until processed, whether to routinely process wound specimens for anaerobic organisms, how to distinguish a pathogen from a contaminant, what information should be used to guide the work up of the culture, and when to perform and report antimicrobial susceptibility testing. We all agree that the purpose for sampling, processing and reporting results of wound specimens is to guide clinical practice and to maximize patient outcomes, however, the best methods to utilize toward this end remain elusive. Methods for microbiological wound analysis will be discussed.

200305. Update on Recent Microbiology Guidelines from the NCCLS

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Apr. 2, 2003 Speaker: James H Jorgensen, Univ. of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX Synopsis: The purpose of this audioconference is to update the participants on the latest NCCLS Microbiology guidelines and standards published in the past year. The conference will review key publications and the most probable procedures or recommendations from these documents.

200306. Update on Anaerobe Susceptibility Testing

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Apr. 16, 2003 Speaker: David W Hecht, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL Synopsis: Susceptibility testing of anaerobic bacteria is now recommended for both surveillance and specific clinical indications. New guidelines published by the NCCLS describing the methods and strategies for susceptibility testing will be discussed.

200307. Chronic Wasting Disease: A Prion Disorder of Deer and Elk

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Apr. 30, 2003 Speaker: Katherine I O'Rourke, USDA-ARS, Pullman, WA Synopsis: Chronic wasting disease is a prion disorder of wild deer and elk in North America. This audioconference will acquaint participants with the challenges of diagnosing and controlling prion diseases in captive and free ranging wildlife.

200308. HIV-1 Genotyping: What Bench Techs Need to Know

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2003 Speaker: Belinda Yen-Lieberman, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH Synopsis: The purpose of this audioconference is to familiarize participants on "what do bench techs need to know about HIV-1 Genotype Test?" One will also learn why do we need this test? What is the clinical significance of the test? How could our clinicians benefit from this test? What should I do if I don't do this test in my lab? What should I look for in a send-out lab?

200309. Getting the Job You Want: Resume Writing, Interview Skills, and Secrets on Hiring!

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Jul. 30, 2003 Speaker: Judy Blumenthal, Associates for Behaviour Change, Hyattsville, MD Synopsis: Job and career issues and enhancement are unique to each individual.This is compounded because of the diverse standards, practices, and cultures within the employment arena. This audioconference will help you: develop a resume to get you in the door; learn about desired employment behaviors; recognize networking targeted to your personal needs; identify national employment sources targeted for your personal needs; and acquire insights into what employers are looking for on an interview.

200310. Update on Stool Ordering and Testing for Diagnostic Parasitology

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2003 Speaker: Lynne Garcia, LSG & Associates, Santa Monica, CA Synopsis: This audioconference will review stool specimen testing for diagnostic parasitology, including the routine O&P examination and the newer immunoassay procedures (EIA, FA, Cartridge formats). Topics include specimen collection options, stool immunoassay formats, specific recommendations for test orders and reporting, and clinical relevance of test results.

200311. How Positive Are You: A Look at the Aerobic Catalase-Negative Gram-Positive Cocci

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2003 Speaker: Claudia J. Hinnebusch, Univ. of California Clinical Labs, Los Angeles, CA Synopsis: The purpose of the teleconference is to provide participants with updated information about classification and identification of the aerobic catalase-negative Gram-positive cocci. Suggestions will be given to aid participants in the decision-making related to identification and susceptibility testing for the aerobic catalase-negative Gram-positive cocci.

200312. Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003 Speaker: William S. Craig, William S. Middleton Memorial VA Hospital, Madison, WI Synopsis: Details for this session are currently not available.

200313. Update on Emerging Fungal Organisms, Anti-Fungal Agents and Drug Resistances

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003 Speaker: Gerri S Hall, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH Synopsis: Fungal organisms and the infections they cause certainly play a major role in infectious disease and clinical microbiology. This audioconference is intended to update participants with the epidemiology of fungal infections in 2003, newer anti-fungal agents that are available or will be soon, and an overview of the methods used to detect resistance.

200314. It’s Time for Real Time: Real-Time PCR Principles and Practice

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2003 Speaker: Amy L. Leber, Quest Diagnostics, San Juan Capistrano, CA Synopsis: The use of real-time PCR is becoming increasingly popular in the clinical microbiology laboratory. Advantages include increased sensitivity and faster turn-around-time. In this audioconference, the principles of real-time PCR, including the different chemistries and methodologies that have been developed for real-time PCR product detection, will be discussed. The instrumentation will also be described, as will the current and future trends for this technology in the laboratory.

200315. Update on the NCCLS Guidelines for Antimycobacterial Susceptibility Testing of the Nontuberculosis Mycobacteria

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2003 Speaker: Barbara A Brown-Elliott, University of Texas Health Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX Synopsis: The purpose of this audioconference is to provide the participant with an update on the recent NCCLS guidelines for antimycobacterial susceptibility testing of the nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) including rapidly growing mycobacterial (RGM) and slowly growing NTM. Specific attention will be focused on RGM, Mycobacterium avium complex, M. kansasii, and M. marinum.

200316. Case Studies of Viral Infections in Hospital Patients

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003 Speaker: Ramon L Sandin, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Ctr., Univ. of South Florida, Tampa, FL Synopsis: Hospitalized patients debilitated by anti-cancer chemotherapy or the neutropenia that follows bone marrow transplantation, are particularly prone to viral infections. Several cases will be presented as unknowns, encompassing agents undergoing endogenous reactivation as well as exogenous respiratory tract pathogens. Kodachromes will highlight details of clinical histories, wet Virology Lab findings, biopsy and autopsy histopathologic findings, and pearls of the agents and the diseases they cause.

200317. Laboratory Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases: Tips for Dealing with Coding and Compliance Issues

Presentation Date: Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2003 Speaker: Vickie Baselski, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN Synopsis: The audioconference is intended to provide participants with an update on the current approach to coding and billing for tests used for diagnosis of infectious diseases. Particular attention will be placed on new codes, new CCI edits, new coverage guidelines, and areas of controversy.