HIV drug resistance surveillance: summary of an April 2003 WHO consultation.
The widespread use of any antimicrobial agent, including antiretroviral agents, has the potential to select drug-resistant populations of microorganisms. HIV drug-resistant strains have been recognized as a serious threat to the efficacy of current antiretroviral treatments and could jeopardize efforts to increase access to treatment in countries most affected by the HIV epidemic. The WHO Global HIV Drug Resistance Surveillance Programme aims at enhancing and enabling the response to the threat of antiretroviral drug resistance by assessing the geographical and temporal trends in HIV drug resistance, increasing our understanding of the determinants of HIV drug resistance, and identifying ways to minimize its appearance, evolution and spread. Based on a global network of experts and collaborating institutions, the programme is developing and field-testing tools and guidelines for the regular monitoring of the level and spread of HIV resistance, particularly in treatment-naive patients. Although relevant progress has been made, several important challenges still exist to the implementation of this essential and innovative programme.
World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland. lazzaris@who.int
Stefano
S
Lazzari
Annapaola
A
de Felici
Howard
H
Sobel
Silvia
S
Bertagnolio
D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D024882:Drug Resistance, Viral; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007391:International Cooperation; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D013048:Specimen Handling