Use of MALDI TOF-MS Method After Lysis Filtration for Rapid Identification of Yeast

Objective: The early diagnosis of candidosis is very important in fungal infections and to reduce mortality rates, short-term and reliable methods are needed. In this study, the appropriateness of MALDI-TOF MS method after lysis filtration was investigated for the faster identification of Candida spp. Method: 100 Candida isolated from positive blood cultures sent to Ege University, School of Medicine, Medical Microbiology laboratory, were studied with Dalmau plaque, MALDI-TOF MS and after lysis filtration methods. The results were compared with those obtained from the classical MALDI-TOF MS method. Results: According to conventional and MALDI-TOF MS identification methods; 37 Candida albicans, 23 Candida parapsilosis, 17 Candida tropicalis, nine Candida glabrata, six Candida kefyr, three Candida guilliermondii, three Candida dubliniensis and three Candida krusei were identified. After lysis filtration method; 26 C. albicans, nine C. parapsilosis, 13 C. tropicalis, nine C. glabrata, two C. kefyr, three C. dubliniensis, two C. krusei. MALDI-TOF MS method and Dalmau plaque and after lysis filtration method were found to be compatible in 64 strains. Incompatibility was not due to incorrect identification, but spectrum deficiency. Conclusion: The strains, which are not identified as “spectrum deficiency” consist of the species in the database. Sixty-four Candida species were found to be 100% compatible with the standard methods and this method was found to be advantageous for at least 48 hours compared to MALDI-TOF MS method which required subculture and for at least 72 hours compared to Dalmau plaque method.