The Use of Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for the Identification of Pathogens Causing Sepsis

Background Sepsis is a life-threatening condition with high rates of morbidity and mortality; effective and appropriate antibiotic therapy is essential for ensuring patient improvement. To aid in the diagnosis of sepsis, blood cultures are drawn and sent to the microbiology laboratory for pathogen growth, identification, and susceptibility testing. The clinical microbiology laboratory can assist the medical team by providing timely identification of the pathogen(s) causing the bloodstream infection through the use of rapid diagnostic technology. One of these rapid diagnostic technologies, MALDI-TOF MS, has been proven to reduce the time required for appropriate antibiotic therapy when used to identify pathogens grown in culture. This technology has also been used to identify pathogens directly from the positive blood cultures with great success. Content In this minireview, we summarize the different methods that have been developed to directly identify pathogens from positive blood cultures by use of MALDI-TOF MS and the effect of this technology on patient outcomes. Additionally, we touch on current research in the field, including the identification of antimicrobial resistance directly from positive blood cultures by MALDI-TOF MS. Summary Rapid identification of pathogens is important in the survival of patients undergoing a septic event. MALDI-TOF MS technology has played an important role in rapid identification, which has led to a reduction in the time to appropriate antibiotic therapy and contributed to the improvement of patient outcomes. The high sensitivity and specificity of MALDI-TOF MS identification, in combination with MALDI-TOF's rapid function and reduced labor costs, make this technology an attractive choice for clinical laboratories.