Shunsuke Segawa1, Setsu Sawai2, Shota Murata3, Motoi Nishimura1, Minako Beppu1, Kazuyuki Sogawa4, Masaharu Watanabe3, Mamoru Satoh4, Tomoo Matsutani5, Masayoshi Kobayashi5, Yasuo Iwadate5, Satoshi Kuwabara6, Naokatsu Saeki5, Fumio Nomura1. 1. Division of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Genetics and Proteomics, Chiba University Hospital, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. 2. Division of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Genetics and Proteomics, Chiba University Hospital, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan; Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. Electronic address: ssawai@faculty.chiba-u.jp. 3. Division of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Genetics and Proteomics, Chiba University Hospital, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. 4. Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. 5. Department of Neurological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan. 6. Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Bacterial meningitis is a neurological emergency. Early diagnosis and rapid initiation of antimicrobial therapy are vital. METHODS: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is increasingly used as a rapid and accurate microbial diagnostic method for species identification of pathogens. Although this technology requires a growth step to obtain bacterial colonies for the acquisition of substantial spectra in most cases, it can also be used to analyze clinical specimens such as urine and cerebrospinal fluid for direct bacterial identification. There are very few reports describing the use of MALDI-TOF MS for the direct detection of microorganisms causing bacterial meningitis. RESULTS: We describe a case of bacterial meningitis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae in which MALDI-TOF MS provided a rapid bacteriological diagnosis, thus enabling early and appropriate treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of microbes based on MALDI-TOF MS is now an important technology in clinical microbiology laboratories that are required to provide a rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.
BACKGROUND:Bacterial meningitis is a neurological emergency. Early diagnosis and rapid initiation of antimicrobial therapy are vital. METHODS: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is increasingly used as a rapid and accurate microbial diagnostic method for species identification of pathogens. Although this technology requires a growth step to obtain bacterial colonies for the acquisition of substantial spectra in most cases, it can also be used to analyze clinical specimens such as urine and cerebrospinal fluid for direct bacterial identification. There are very few reports describing the use of MALDI-TOF MS for the direct detection of microorganisms causing bacterial meningitis. RESULTS: We describe a case of bacterial meningitis caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae in which MALDI-TOF MS provided a rapid bacteriological diagnosis, thus enabling early and appropriate treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of microbes based on MALDI-TOF MS is now an important technology in clinical microbiology laboratories that are required to provide a rapid diagnosis of bacterial meningitis.