More microbiology clinics could curb new illnesses, says experts

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 02/19/2008 11:40 AM | National

The dearth of microbiology clinical laboratories keeps the country vulnerable to infectious diseases like avian influenza and tuberculosis, a top microbiologist said here over the weekend.

"There is no a single sufficient microbiology clinical lab in Indonesia," Pratiwi Pujilestari Sudarmono told students and government officials during her inauguration as professor at the University of Indonesia's School of Medicine.

"There are no consistent guidelines from the government on microbiology laboratories to which hospitals can adhere."

Microbiology clinical laboratories specialize in analyzing microbes and their relationship to the human body.

Microbiology studies flourished in the early half of the 20th century, but the development of antibiotics and the advent of molecular biology have stunted its appeal.

However, Pratiwi argued that re-emerging infectious diseases such as tuberculosis have made microbiology necessary again.

The number of tuberculosis cases has increased by 20 percent in the past decade compared to the previous decade.

According to a 2005 research study at Dr. Rotinsulu Hospital in Bandung, out of 174 positive readings, 75 percent of the tuberculosis cases have shown some level of resistance to antibiotics.

"Many of the disease-causing bacteria common here have mutated to become more resistant due to inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics or the improper dosage or usage," Pratiwi said.

"For example, many countries regard the Indonesian tuberculosis bacteria as the most vicious. You wouldn't want to get caught at (a foreign) airport with the disease."

Data for 2005 to 2007 from the World Health Organization shows that tuberculosis struck 115 out of 100,000 people in Indonesia during that period.

Pratiwi also pointed to concern about emerging diseases such as avian influenza, or bird flu, and certain diarrheas diseases.

"Take the bird flu, it is such a scary disease (and) the infection and mortality rate in this country was sort of unexpected," she said.

Indonesia has the world's highest bird flu death toll with 104 fatalities, according to data from the Health Ministry.

Avian influenza causes respiratory problems and can be fatal in humans. Scientists fear the viral strain may one day mutate to allow human-to-human transmission, which may cause a global pandemic.

Meanwhile, diarrhea diseases are common in Indonesia -- killing 100,000 children annually -- yet are classified as an "extraordinary occurrence".

Pratiwi said reinforcing microbiology clinical research could curb Indonesia's high infection rate for microbe-related diseases.

She considered the emerging infectious diseases as warning signs for the government; it should quickly develop new laws and assist hospitals in creating a workable network of microbiology clinical labs, she said.

"Most of all, we need the government to provide a sufficient, internationally accredited microbiology clinical lab to be used as a model for hospitals." (anw)

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