Strain Identification of Methicillin-Sensitive Staphylococcus Aureus from a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit using MALDI-ToF Mass Spectrometry

Wed 11:30 AM - Track 2: Microbes and Infectious Disease

Richard R. Drake Eastern Virginia Medical School

View Long Abstract

Genus and species identification of bacteria using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is becoming standard in many clinical microbiology laboratories, yet methods for identification of strain differences within a species remains a challenge. To address this, primary clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus obtained from routine nasal swabs in a neonatal intensive care unit were evaluated by MALDI-TOF profiling. Emphasis was placed on distinguishing known methicillin sensitive and methicillin resistant S. aureus strains most frequently associated with blood infections. MALDI-TOF profiling could reproducibly differentiate laboratory MRSA and MSSA strains, but could not reliably be used with primary clinical isolates of MSSA.

Email: drakerr@evms.edu

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