Abstract:
OBJECTIVE To compare the applications of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in the typing and transmission chain analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
METHODS This study collected 16 strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from the ICU of the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. Drug susceptibility tests were conducted, which were then typed with PFGE and subjected to protein spectrum analysis with MALDI-TOF MS. The mass spectrometry data were processed through MALDI Biotyper and Mass-Up, respectively, and the Simpson's Diversity Index (SDI), Adjusted Rand Index (ARI) and Adjusted Wallace Coefficient (AW) were calculated to evaluate the consistency between the results of MALDI-TOF MS and PFGE. Furthermore, based on PFGE typing combined with the ICU bed layout and sampling time of the strains, the potential transmission patterns of the bacteria within the ICU were assessed.
RESULTS PFGE classified the 16 strains of P. aeruginosa into 12 types, and the mass spectrometry data processed by MALDI Biotyper and Mass-Up were classified into 10 and 11 types, respectively. The SDI calculation results showed that the data processed by MALDI Biotyper and Mass-Up had lower diversity (SDI values of 0.925 and 0.875, respectively), failing to reach the resolution level of PFGE (0.975). The ARI (MALDI Biotyper VS PFGE) value was 0.134, while the ARI (Mass-Up VS PFGE) value was only 0.072, the two had low consistency with PFGE, and there were significant differences between results and PFGE. In terms of typing derivation capability, the AW (MALDI Biotyper→PFGE) value was 0.088, superior to Mass-Up, but still difficult to replicate the typing pattern of PFGE.
CONCLUSIONS The typing capability of MALDI-TOF MS is lower than that of PFGE and has limitations in replicating the transmission chain of strains. Data processed by MALDI Biotyper can provide limited reference, while data processed by Mass-Up lacks stability.