[Correlation between MALDI-TOF Vitek-MSTM system and conventional identification methods of gastrointestinal infection causing bacteria].

OBJECTIVE: Rapid identification of pathogens is essential for the diagnosis of gastrointestinal infections. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry has shown to be effective and fast for the identification of microorganisms. The objective of this study was to evaluate the correlation between Vitek-MSTM and conventional methods for bacterial identification causing gastrointestinal infection.

METHODS: A total of 329 gastrointestinal pathogens were identified using Vitek-MSTM (v2 SARAMIS MS -ID, bioMérieux, Marcy-I´Étoile, France) and routine diagnostic methods simultaneously. In cases of discrepancy 16SrRNA gene sequencing was performed.

RESULTS: The correlation between Vitek-MSTM and diagnostic methods was 100% except for Yersinia enterocolitica (94.1%), Helicobacter pylori (10%) and Aeromonas veronii (0 %).

CONCLUSIONS: Vitek-MSTM is a quick and useful method for identification of enterophatogenic bacteria. It is necessary to improve the performance of the system for the identification of H. pylori and A. veronii.