DETECTION AND PREVALANCE OF THE MACROLIDE RESISTANCE GENE ermB IN CLINICAL Streptococcus suis ISOLATES IN BALI, INDONESIA

Abstract

Streptococcus suis is a significant zoonotic pathogen causing high morbidity and mortality in humans, 
particularly in Southeast Asia. Resistance to macrolide antibiotics, often mediated by the ermB gene, has 
become a serious global threat, with a very high prevalence in many countries. However, molecular data on 
this resistance from Indonesia, especially Bali, remain scarce. This study aimed to detect the presence and 
determine the prevalence of the ermB gene in clinical S. suis isolates from a tertiary hospital in Bali. This 
study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design on 20 archived clinical S. suis isolates from the period 
of December 2021 to April 2022. Detection of the ermB gene was performed using the Polymerase Chain 
Reaction (PCR) method with specific primers. The results showed that the ermB gene was detected in 1 out 
of 20 isolates analyzed, yielding an overall prevalence of 5%. The single positive isolation originated from a 
cerebrospinal fluid specimen. In conclusion, the ermB gene is present in the clinical S. suis population in 
Bali, but its prevalence is significantly lower compared to reports from other Asian countries. This likely 
indicates lower selective pressure from macrolide use in the local environment. These data provide a crucial 
baseline for antimicrobial resistance surveillance and antibiotic stewardship guidelines in this region.