Identification by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry of Bacteria in Air Samples in a Biosafety Level 2 Laboratory

Ivan Arvizu Hernández¹, José Luis Hernández Flores², Sergio Romero Gómez³, Andrés Cruz Hernández⁴, Carlos Saldaña Gutierrez¹, Xóchitl Pastrana Martínez⁴, George H. Jones⁵, and Juan Campos-Guillen³

1. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Avenida de las Ciencias s/n, México

2. CINVESTAV-IPN, Irapuato, México

3. Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas s/n, Querétaro, México

4. Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de las Campanas s/n, Querétaro, México

5. Department of Biology, Emory University, USA

Abstract: The implementation of an environmental monitoring program in a biosafety level 2 laboratory was evaluated in a multinational manufacturer of personal care products in Querétaro State, México. A total of six sites were monitored in the facility and microbiological air samples were collected. Nineteen bacterial genera were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and the most prevalent genera identified were Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Microbacterium oleivorans, Kocuria rosea, Citricoccus sp. and Arthrobacter Phenanthren ivorans. The results showed that Gram negative bacteria, such as Pseudomonas sp. and P. perfectomarina were highly resistant to all the antibiotics tested, as were the Gram positive species, Staphylococcus cohnii and S. xylosus. Our results strongly suggest that bacterial characterization is important for this environmental monitoring program to assure the maintenance of acceptable air quality conditions.

Key words: multi-drug resistance, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, bacteria, multinational manufacturer, environmental monitoring