Vitek MS matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry for identifying respiratory bacterial pathogens: a fast and efficient method.

Mass spectrometry has become a reference resource for identifying microorganisms in clinical microbiology services. One hundred and fifty one clinical isolates were selected from respiratory specimens routinely identified as Streptococcus pneumoniae (43), Haemophilus influenzae (64) and Moraxella catarrhalis (44). These identifications were compared with other phenotypical methods and mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS Vitek). Result discrepancies were assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing. Thirty-eight of the 43 strains of S. pneumoniae (86%) were identified as such using phenotypical methods and spectrometry. In 5 cases, MALDI-TOF identified 4 of them as Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae and 1 as S. mitis/oralis. Forty-eight of the 64 strains were identified as H. influenzae (75%) using biochemical identification systems and automated identification systems, whereas MALDI-TOF-MS Vitek identified 51 strains (79%) as such. Conventional methods and spectrometry identified all the 40 strains tested (100%) as M. catarrhalis. All strains with discrepant results were sequenced, and in all cases, the identification obtained by spectrometry was confirmed. The results obtained in this study show that mass spectrometry provides identification of these bacteria faster and in a more reliable way than those based on conventional phenotypical methods.

Vitek MS matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry for identifying respiratory bacterial pathogens: a fast and efficient method / La espectrometría de masas en la identificación de patógenos respiratorios bacterianos: un método rápido y eficaz

Mass spectrometry has become a reference resource for identifying microorganisms in clinical microbiology services. One hundred and fifty one clinical isolates were selected from respiratory specimens routinely identified as Streptococcus pneumoniae (43), Haemophilus influenzae (64) and Moraxella catarrhalis (44). These identifications were compared with other phenotypical methods and mass spectrometry (MALDI -TOF -MS Vitek). Result discrepancies were assessed by 16S rRNA sequencing. Thirty-eight of the 43 strains of S. pneumoniae (86%) were identified as such using phenotypical methods and spectrometry. In 5 cases, MALDI-TOF identified 4 of them as Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae and 1 as S. mitis/oralis. Forty-eight of the 64 strains were identified as H. influenzae (75%) using biochemical identification systems and automated identification systems, whereas MALDI-TOF-MS Vitek identified 51 strains (79%) as such. Conventional methods and spectrometry identified all the 40 strains tested (100%) as M. catarrhalis. All strains with discrepant results were sequenced, and in all cases, the identification obtained by spectrometry was confirmed. The results obtained in this study show that mass spectrometry provides identification of these bacteria faster and in a more reliable way than those based on conventional phenotypical methods (AU)

La espectrometría de masas se ha convertido en un recurso de referencia para la identificación de microorganismos en los servicios de Microbiología Clínica. Se estudiaron 151 aislamientos clínicos procedentes de muestras respiratorias que se identificaron rutinariamente como Streptococcus pneumoniae (43), Haemophilus influenzae (64) y Moraxella catarrhalis (44). Estos resultados se compararon con otros métodos fenotípicos y espectrometría de masas (MALDI-TOF Vitek-MS). Las discrepancias en los resultados se valoraron mediante secuenciación del ARNr 16S. Treinta y ocho de las 43 cepas de S. pneumoniae (86%) fueron identificadas como tales tanto por métodos bioquímicos como por espectrometría. En 5 casos MALDI-TOF identificó 4 como Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae y 1 como S. mitis/oralis. Cuarenta y ocho de las 64 cepas fueron identificadas como H. influenzae (75%) al utilizar galerías comerciales y sistemas automáticos, mientras que MALDI-TOF identifica como tales a 51 cepas (79%). Los métodos convencionales y la espectrometría identificaron como M. catarrhalis las 40 cepas estudiadas (100%). Todas las cepas con resultados discrepantes fueron secuenciadas, confirmándose en todos los casos la identificación obtenida por espectrometría. Los resultados obtenidos en este estudio demuestran que la espectrometría de masas ofrece una identificación de estas bacterias más rápida y fiable que la basada en métodos convencionales (AU)