Differentiation and characterization of Klebsiella pneumoniae strains by pyrolysis-gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Nine coded duplicate strains of capsular nontypable Klebsiella pneumoniae were analyzed by pyrolysis-gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. All duplicate strains were correctly matched, and individual strains, including seven nontypable strains, were clearly distinguishable from one another. The addition of mass spectrometry to the analysis has aided the process of identification and has provided chemical structural information on K. pneumoniae strains. Application of this technique to the identification of some disease outbreaks or nosocomial problems could be of epidemiological importance, especially when conventional methods do not identify the epidemic strain.