Identification of Neisseria meningitidis by MALDI-TOF MS may not be reliable

摘要

Objectives: The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) technique is increasingly used in hospital laboratories for routine identification of microorganisms. However, its performance is variable, particularly for highly variable species such as Neisseria meningitidis. Reliable identification of N. meningitidis is crucial for the management of invasive meningococcal disease by rapid implementation of treatment and preventive measures among close contacts. We assessed and improved N. meningitidis identification by MALDI-TOF MS by enriching the databases with reference strains identified using whole genome sequencing (WGS) as a reference standard.