In-house protocol and performance of MALDI-TOF MS in the early diagnosis of bloodstream infections in a fourth-level hospital in Colombia: Jumping to full use of this technology.

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are a major cause of mortality in hospitalized patients. Rapid diagnosis is crucial because any delay in the antimicrobial treatment is associated with an increase in adverse patient outcomes. The application of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) technology directly to blood cultures permits earlier identification of BSIs and facilitates treatment management.