Application of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in clinical diagnostic microbiology

Elena De Carolis; Antonietta Vella; Luisa Vaccaro; Riccardo Torelli; Teresa Spanu; Barbara Fiori; Brunella Posteraro; Maurizio Sanguinetti

doi:10.3855/jidc.3623

Application of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in clinical diagnostic microbiology

Authors

Elena De Carolis Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy
Antonietta Vella Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy
Luisa Vaccaro Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy
Riccardo Torelli Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy
Teresa Spanu Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy
Barbara Fiori Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy
Brunella Posteraro Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy
Maurizio Sanguinetti Catholic University of the Sacred Hearth, Rome, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.3623

Keywords:

MALDI-TOF MS, diagnostic microbiology, subtyping, antimicrobial resistance

Abstract

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has recently emerged as a powerful technique for identification of microorganisms, changing the workflow of well-established laboratories so that its impact on microbiological diagnostics has been unparalleled.

In comparison with conventional identification methods that rely on biochemical tests and require long incubation procedures, MALDI-TOF MS has the advantage of identifying bacteria and fungi directly from colonies grown on culture plates in a few minutes and with simple procedures.

Numerous studies on different systems available demonstrate the reliability and accuracy of the method, and new frontiers have been explored besides microbial species level identification, such as direct identification of pathogens from positive blood cultures, subtyping, and drug susceptibility detection.

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Published

2014-09-12

How to Cite

De Carolis E, Vella A, Vaccaro L, Torelli R, Spanu T, Fiori B, Posteraro B, Sanguinetti M (2014) Application of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry in clinical diagnostic microbiology. J Infect Dev Ctries 8:1081–1088. doi: 10.3855/jidc.3623

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Issue

Vol. 8 No. 09: September 2014

Section

Reviews

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