Chapter Thirteen - Identification of Mycobacteria by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

When mycobacteria are recovered in clinical specimens, timely species-level identification is required to establish the clinical significance of the isolate and facilitate optimization of antimicrobial therapy. Matrix-assisted desorption ionization–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has recently been reported to be a reliable and expedited method for identification of mycobacteria, although various specimen preparation techniques and database for analysis are reported across studies. This chapter focuses on the current state of use of MALDI-TOF MS for identification of mycobacteria and the main difficulties that may lead to erroneous or doubtful identifications. MALDI-TOF MS has revolutionized diagnosis in clinical microbiology; however, specific improvements are needed to consolidate the use of this technology in mycobacteriology.