Differentiation of Cronobacter spp. by tryptic digestion of the cell suspension followed by MALDI-TOF MS analysis.

Intact cell MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is a rapid tool for the identification and classification of microorganisms, now widely used even in clinical laboratories. However, its distinctive power is not sufficient for some closely-related species. The genus Cronobacter, formerly known as Enterobacter sakazakii, contains such species.