DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITIES OF MALDI-TOF MS IN THE IDENTIFICATION OF RARE BACTERIAL ISOLATES

Abstract

MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry has transformed clinical microbiology by enabling rapid, highly accurate identification of microorganisms based on unique protein spectral profiles, overcoming the limitations of conventional biochemical panels when applied to atypical strains. Aim: To characterize rare bacterial isolates identified by MALDI-TOF MS and assess their clinical significance. Methods: Clinical specimens (blood, sputum, wound discharge, urine, respiratory material) collected in 2025–2026 at the Center for Microbiological Research, Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University, were analyzed using a Bruker MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer with reference database comparison. Results: Six rare pathogens were identified — Elizabethkingia meningoseptica, Chryseobacterium indologenes, Ochrobactrum anthropi, Myroides odoratimimus, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, and Kocuria kristinae — many of which are difficult to distinguish from more common species by conventional culture-based methods, risking misclassification and diagnostic delay. Keywords: MALDI-TOF, rare pathogens, microorganism identification, clinical microbiology.