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Updated: Jul 31, 2025

Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS
Published on: July 11, 2016
Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) as an Indispensable Tool in Diagnostic
Akanksha Gupta1, Jyotsna Agarwal1, Vikramjeet Singh1
1Microbiology, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, IND.
Introduction:
Owing to its accurate diagnosis, rapid turnaround time, cost effectivity, and less rates of error, Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight (MALDI-TOF) has replaced most of the phenotypic methods of identification. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare and evaluate MALDI-TOF MS to conventional biochemical-to identify bacterial microorganisms.
Methods:
Different bacterial species isolated from 2010 to 2018 (pre-MALDI-TOF era), using routine bio-chemicals were compared to bacterial species isolated from 2019 to August 2021 (post MALDI-TOF), using MALDI-TOF, in the microbiology laboratory of a tertiary care hospital in North India. Chi-Square test (χ2) was used for the evaluation of bacterial identification between biochemical tests and MALDI-TOF MS association with a 95% confidence interval, considering wrong identification in genera or at a species level.
Results:
Many different and new genera and species of bacteria could be identified using MALDI-TOF, which was not possible using only routine manual bio-chemicals like Kocuria rhizophilus, Rothia mucilaginosa, Enterococcus casseliflavus, Enterococcus gallinarum, Leuconostoc, Leclercia adecarboxylata, Raoultella ornithological, Cryseobacterium indologenes. Conclusion: Each of the newly identified bacteria played an important role in deciding treatment. Wide use of the MALDI-TOF system will not only strengthen diagnostic stewardship but also encourage antimicrobial stewardship programs.
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