Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for the Identification of Bacteria Causing Urinary Tract Infections

Abstract

Abstract MALDI-TOF MS has been developed as reliable method of bacterial and fungal identification to the genus and species level from colonies due to its rapid results, cost effective and easy to use methods. In our research we evaluated the performance of MALDI-TOF MS identification of uropathogens direct from urine samples. Two hundred samples included in this study from the Microbiology Laboratory at Central Lab of Armed Forces from October 2016 to October ‎‎2017. The samples were selected with clinical and laboratory findings suggested of urinary tract infections. The sampels with (positive dipstik test, WBCs > 10 HPF and direct film stained with Gram stain show monomicrobial organisms). Urine sample was proceeded to direct identification by MALDI-TOF MS and cultured on the same time on CLED and Chromogenic agar medium then after 24 hours the colonies from culture identified by MALDI-TOF MS. We compared results obtained from MALDI-TOF MS from the samples directly with the results obtained from MALDI-TOF MS after cultures.