Use of MALDI-TOF MS in diagnostic microbiology for identification of species that conventional methods usually fail to identify

Abstract

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been used in clinical diagnostic laboratories for the identification of microorganisms. It has a relevant advantage compared to other methods in terms of speed to provide results, being an alternative for addressing restrictions in clinical diagnosis as it may replace or complement existing identification techniques. This is especially important because some rare microorganisms would be identified only by higher cost techniques which are not widely available, such as genetic sequencing. Thus, the present paper reports two cases in which uncommon microorganisms were identified effectively and quickly. Keywords: Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria; Mycobacterium abscessus; Bacterial infections; Actinotignum schaalii; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

Keywords

• non-tuberculous mycobacteria
• mycobacterium abscessus
• bacterial infections
• actinotignum schaalii
• spectrometry, mass, matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization