Incubation time and culture media impact success of identification of Nocardia spp. by MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry.

Identification of Nocardia can be challenging, even by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS). We examined the impact of incubation duration, culture media and bead-beading on identification success. When isolates were grown for 3 days on SAB (Saboround dextrose agar), then extracted using a bead-beating, ethanol/formic acid (EtOH/FA) procedure, MALDI-ToF MS correctly identified 36.4% to species level. By contrast, 80.9% of isolates were correctly identified to species level when processed with the standard EtOH/FA extraction from Columbia blood agar (CBA) cultures incubated until colonies first appeared. Excluding rare species, the latter approach correctly identified 93.0% of isolates of commonly-encountered Nocardia species when additional database entries were included to expand representation of select species. We demonstrate that while bead-beating has little impact on identification success by MALDI-ToF MS, analysis of early growth is crucial. Additionally, culture media that promotes quick growth of Nocardia (e.g. CBA) is recommended.