FT-IR SPECTROSCOPY AS AN EMERGING METHOD FOR RAPID CHARACTERIZATION OF MICROORGANISMS

Statistical methods such as principal component analysis and cluster a nalysis were used to analyze ATR-FT-IR spectra obtained from bacterial whole cells. Both methods gave satisfactory results and are conclusiv e in showing that they can discriminate and classify bacterial strains of clinical origin exhibiting different resistance mechanisms. This a pproach places FT-IR spectroscopy at the forefront of those new potent ial techniques that could be used in the rapid screening of microorgan isms.