South Central Association for Clinical Microbiology

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South Central Association for Clinical Microbiology

The South Central Association for Clinical Microbiology (SCACM) was formed to fill the need to produce better informed microbiologists.

The association's goals include: promoting scientific knowledge of Clinical Microbiology through communication, improving education, encouraging scientific investigation, and gaining higher recognition in the field of Clinical Microbiology. The Association started with a small group of microbiologists who had attended a class together and wanted to keep in touch. They enthusiastically planned and conducted the first meeting of the Association. It was held in Columbus, Indiana (located in the south central region of the state) on October 2-3, 1970. It was well received by 35-40 attendees. Since then the group has grown to support the continuing educational needs of microbiologists, primarily from but not limited to, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.

17/09/2025

Michigan Fall SCACM
We had a lot of exhibitor interaction time, a fabulous lunch and two more great speakers, Dr. VanEnk and Dr. Ortiz (Ticks/Lyme and AST).

17/09/2025

Thank you to our exhibitors. We value each of you sharing your products with us.

17/09/2025

The Michigan meeting is happening now. Great turnout from our microbiologists, speakers and exhibitors. Thanks to Jonathan Grant for planning this meeting and to our exhibitors for supporting our meeting.

15/09/2025

SCACM Fall Meeting KENTUCKY 2025

When: 23 Oct 2025 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS), 300 North Main Street Versailles, KY 40383

FREE for SCACM Members when you register before October 9th!
MEMBER REGISTRATION- After October 9th – $40.00
NON-MEMBER REGISTRATION- Advanced (before October 9th ) – $40.00
NON-MEMBER REGISTRATION- After October 9th – $60.00

Register at:

08/09/2025

SCACM Fall Meeting INDIANA 2025

When: 13 Oct 2025 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location: Hilton Garden Inn Fort Wayne North 10650 Diebold Rd Fort Wayne, IN 46845

FREE for SCACM Members when you register before September 29th!
MEMBER REGISTRATION- After September 29th – $40.00
NON-MEMBER REGISTRATION- Advanced (before September 29th ) – $40.00
NON-MEMBER REGISTRATION- After September 29th – $60.00

Register at: https://scacm27.wildapricot.org/event-6244850

05/09/2025

🍵🧫 Agar Spotlight: HEK vs. XLD 🦠✨
When it comes to isolating Salmonella & Shigella, these selective media are microbiologists’ best friends!

🔹 Hektoen Enteric (HEK) Agar
💚 Green background → makes colonies pop
💩 Lactose fermenters: yellow to orange colonies
🖤 H₂S producers (like Salmonella): colonies with black centers
🤍 Shigella: green, translucent colonies

🔹 Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate (XLD) Agar
🍭 Lactose/sucrose fermenters: yellow colonies
🖤 Salmonella: red colonies w/ black centers
🔴 Shigella: red colonies, no black

⚡ Why they rock: Both are selective & differential — suppressing normal flora while highlighting enteric pathogens.

👩🔬 Pro tip: Always check multiple plates & confirm with biochemical tests — these agars give you strong clues, but not the final answer.

03/09/2025

🦠✨ Bug of the Day: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
A mouthful to say, and a handful in the lab!

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a Gram-negative, non-fermenter that has emerged as an important opportunistic pathogen in hospitals.

🔍 Fast Facts:
🔹 Found in: Water, soil, hospital sinks, disinfectants 💧
🔹 Causes: Pneumonia, bloodstream infections, wound infections — especially in immunocompromised patients
🔹 Risk factors: Ventilators, central lines, long hospital stays
🔹 Lab ID: Oxidase negative, motile, produces yellow pigment on agar
🔹 Resistance: Naturally resistant to many antibiotics, but often susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX)

⚠️ Why it matters:
Once considered harmless, this bug now challenges infection control and antimicrobial stewardship programs worldwide.

01/09/2025

SCACM Fall Meeting WISCONSIN 2025

When: 9 Oct 2025 7:45 AM - 4:15 PM (CDT)
Location: Aurora Conference Center Heil Center, 2920 W Dakota St, Milwaukee, WI 53215

FREE for SCACM Members when you register before September 25th!
MEMBER REGISTRATION- After September 25th – $40.00
NON-MEMBER REGISTRATION- Advanced (before September 25th ) – $40.00
NON-MEMBER REGISTRATION- After September 25th – $60.00

Register at:

29/08/2025

🟠🧫 Lab Stain Spotlight: Acridine Orange (AO) ✨🔬
Not just any orange — this fluorescent dye lights up microbes in style!

Acridine Orange is a nucleic acid–binding dye used in microbiology and cytology. Under a fluorescent microscope, it helps highlight bacteria, parasites, and even cellular changes.

🔍 How it Works:
🧬 Binds to nucleic acids
🟢 DNA fluoresces green
🟠 RNA fluoresces orange/red
➡️ Makes it easier to detect organisms in blood, CSF, or culture — especially when Gram stain sensitivity is low.

✨ Applications:
🔹 Rapid detection of bacteremia & fungemia
🔹 Screening for parasites like Plasmodium
🔹 Research tool for studying cell cycle & apoptosis

⚡ Why we love it:
AO is fast, sensitive, and glows beautifully — turning invisible pathogens into brilliant beacons.

27/08/2025

🦠 Microbe Spotlight: Proteus spp. 🦠
Known for their swarming motility, members of the genus Proteus are Gram-negative rods in the Enterobacteriaceae family. They’re opportunistic pathogens that can cause urinary tract infections, wound infections, and septicemia.

✨ Key Features:
🔹 Strong urease producers → raise urine pH, promote stone formation
🔹 Distinctive swarming colonies on agar (a microbiologist’s favorite sight!)
🔹 Common species: P. mirabilis (most frequent in UTIs) & P. vulgaris

⚠️ Clinical Relevance:
Proteus infections are often associated with catheters and complicated UTIs. Their resistance patterns make proper ID and susceptibility testing crucial.

👩🔬 Fun Fact: The genus was named after Proteus, the Greek sea god who could change shape — just like Proteus bacteria’s versatile growth patterns!

25/08/2025

SCACM Fall Meeting ILLINOIS 2025!

When: 2 October 2025 7:45 AM - 4:15 PM (CDT)
Location: Erin's Pavilion 4965 S 2nd St Springfield, IL 62703

FREE for SCACM Members before September 18th
MEMBER REGISTRATION after September 18th – $40.00
NON-MEMBER REGISTRATION before September 18th – $40.00
NON-MEMBER REGISTRATION after September 18th – $60.00

Register at: https://scacm27.wildapricot.org/event-6259035

18/08/2025

Vaccine Preventable Diseases on the Rise
DATE: August 26, 2025
TIME: 12:00 noon Eastern Time (Live Lecture with Q&A)

SPEAKER:

Casey L. C. Schroeder, PhD, MLS(ASCP), MB, SM, SLS,
Microbiology Unit Director III, Texas Department of State Health Services

SCACM is an approved P.A.C.E.® continuing education provider through ASCLS!

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