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 plasmid in tetracycline-resistant isolates (TRNG) was performed using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and plasmid profiles of penicillinase-producing isolates (PPNG) were determined. All PPNG possessed the 4.4 MDa beta-lactamase plasmid and all TRNG showed a PCR fragment characteristic of the 'Dutch' type Tet M plasmid. Of the 50 gonococci isolates tested, all were resistant to tetracycline; 47 were TRNG, 26 were PPNG, and 6 were resistant to thiamphenicol. Chromosomal resistance to penicillin was not detected. All isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, kanamycin, spectinomycin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Spectinomycin and fluoroquinolones are useful primary drugs for treatment of gonococcal infection in Bandung. Continued surveillance of antimicrobial resistance should be part of gonorrhoea control in Indonesia.