FIGURE 2.

Different workflows for susceptibility testing of positive BCs. Classical workflow: Overnight sub-cultivation of positive BC broth, followed by identification of the pathogen using MALDI-TOF MS. An overnight susceptibility testing is performed and susceptibility results are finalized approx. 2 days after BC was flagged positive. Accelerated workflow: Shortly incubated solid medium cultures (2–6 h) are used for MALDI-TOF MS identification, followed by an overnight susceptibility testing from the same shortly incubated cultures. Susceptibility results are available the day after BC was flagged positive. Suggested workflow: Positive BC broth is processed by the lysis/centrifugation method, using the modified MBT Sepsityper protocol, followed by the MALDI-TOF MS identification. The obtained pellet (without protein extraction) is used for MALDI-TOF MS-based rapid AST. Susceptibility results are available the same day BC was flagged positive within <6 h.