What clinicians need to know about antiviral drugs and viral resistance.
The development of safe and effective antiviral therapies for the management of a variety of viral infections has expanded tremendously in recent years. Treatment is now possible for serious and potentially life-threatening infections with herpesviruses, respiratory viruses such as influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus, and the human immunodeficiency virus. The increased availability and use of antiviral drugs, however, has led to the emergence of drug-resistant viruses, especially in immunocompromised hosts. With this review, the major antiviral agents are presented with a description of the mechanisms of action, the evolution of drug resistance, and the need for in vitro antiviral susceptibility testing.
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Division of Immunologic and Infectious Diseases, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, USA.
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology; D014412:Tumor Virus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D019562:Viral Load / Q000379:methods; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors