Abstract

LEGARRAGA, Paulette et al. Impact of mass spectrometry by MALDI-TOF MS for the rapid identification of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria of clinical importance. Rev. chil. infectol. [online]. 2013, vol.30, n.2, pp.140-146. ISSN 0716-1018.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0716-10182013000200004.

Background: MALDI-TOF MS (Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization -Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry) technology, recently introduced in the microbiology laboratory has proven to be a precise and rapid method for bacterial identification. Objective: To evaluate the performance, costs associated and turnaround time of MALDI-TOF in a routine laboratory. Material and Method: Five hundred and sixty one clinical isolates (281 aerobes and 280 anaerobes) previously identified by conventional methods were evaluated. Discordances were resolved by means of 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: MALDI-TOF identified 95, 7% of the aerobes isolates and 86, 4% of the anaerobes. The groups with better performance were the enterobacteriacea and Bacteroides spp with 95% and 100% identification at the species level. The error rate of MALDI-TOF and conventional methods compared to sequencing was 0, 39% and 9, 4% respectively. The costs associated were 8 times lower with a turnaround time of 6 hours. Conclusion: MALDI-TOF proved to be simple, precise and less expensive technology compared to the traditional methods.

Keywords : MALDI-TOF MS; mass spectrometry; identification.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )