Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry for the rapid detection of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and beyond

Abstract

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has been successfully applied in recent years for first-line identification of pathogens in clinical microbiology because it is simple to use, rapid, and accurate and has economic benefits in hospital management. The range of clinical applications of MALDI-TOF MS for bacterial isolates is increasing constantly, from species identification to the two most promising applications in the near future: detection of antimicrobial resistance and strain typing for epidemiological studies. The aim of this review is to outline the contribution of previous MALDI-TOF MS studies in relation to detection of antimicrobial resistance and to discuss potential future challenges in this field. Three main approaches are ready (or almost ready) for clinical use, including the detection of antibiotic modifications due to the enzymatic activity of bacteria, the detection of antimicrobial resistance by analysis of the peak patterns of bacteria or mass peak profiles, and the detection of resistance by semi-quantification of bacterial growth in the presence of a given antibiotic. This review provides an expert guide for MALDI-TOF MS users to new approaches in the field of antimicrobial resistance detection, especially possible applications as a routine diagnostic tool in microbiology laboratories.