Rapid Identification Protocols in bacteria by MALDI-TOF from positive blood cultures. A literature review

Objective. To identify protocols for rapid identification of bacteria by MALDI-TOF from positive blood cultures that are as accurate as standardized ones. Methods. A bibliographic review was conducted on experimental articles, systematic reviews, experimental studies, and diagnostic test studies on the rapid identification of bacteria by MALDI-TOF from positive blood cultures. The QUADAS-2 tool was applied to evaluate the risk of bias in the articles. Results. There are various methodologies for the rapid identification of bacteria from positive blood cultures, all with a processing time of no more than one hour and with materials accessible in laboratories. These methodologies, such as Sepsityper and artisanal methods, achieve good accuracy in identifying Gram-negative bacteria, but there are still limitations in identifying Gram-positive bacteria depending on the genus and species of the bacterium. It is important to note that the quality of evidence in most studies is moderate, so the results should be taken with caution. Conclusion. There are several methodologies for rapid identification of bacteria in positive blood cultures, with short processing times and accessible materials in laboratories, that achieve good accuracy in identifying Gram-negative bacteria but have limitations in identifying Gram-positive bacteria. The quality of evidence is moderate, indicating that further studies with better design and higher quality and certainty results are needed to draw inferences obtained.