Comparative study using phenotypic, genotypic, and proteomics methods for identification of coagulase-negative staphylococci

Abstract

Five methods were compared to determine the most accurate method for identification of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (n = 142 strains). Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization - time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) showed the best results for rapid and accurate CoNS differentiation (99.3% of strains correctly identified). An alternative to this approach could be Vitek2 combined with partial tuf gene sequencing (100% of strains correctly identified when both methods are performed simultaneously). Copyright © 2012, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.