Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry as an Alternative to 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing for Identification of Difficult-To-Identify Bacterial Strains

Conventional methods are sometimes insufficient to identify human bacterial pathogens, and alternative techniques, often molecular, are required. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) identified with a valid score 45.9% of 410 clinical isolates from 207 different difficult-to-identify species having required 16S rRNA gene sequencing. MALDI-TOF MS might represent an alternative to 16S rRNA gene sequencing.