PLASMID PATTERNS AND ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITIES OF NEISSERIA-GONORRHOEAE IN BANDUNG, INDONESIA

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates from female sex workers and from men with urethritis in Bandung, Indonesia, were determined by an agar dilution technique. Typing of the Tet M pl asmid in tetracycline-resistant isolates (TRNG) was performed using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and plasmid profiles of peni cillinase-producing isolates (PPNG) were determined. All PPNG possesse d the 4.4 MDa beta-lactamase plasmid and all TRNG showed a PCR fragmen t characteristic of the 'Dutch' type Tet M plasmid. Of the 50 gonococc i isolates tested, all were resistant to tetracycline; 47 were TRNG, 2 6 were PPNG, and 6 were resistant to thiamphenicol. Chromosomal resist ance to penicillin was not detected. All isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, kanamycin, spectin omycin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Spectinomycin and fluoroqui nolones are useful primary drugs for treatment of gonococcal infection in Bandung. Continued surveillance of antimicrobial resistance should be part of gonorrhoea control in Indonesia.